Tehran, April 19: Iran has indicated that there has been “progress” in its ongoing discussions with the United States, though it stressed that a final agreement is still a long way off, with the current two-week ceasefire due to expire on April 22, according to local media reports on Sunday.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday (local time) that significant differences continue to persist between the two sides.

“There are many gaps and some fundamental points remain,” Ghalibaf said, underlining that negotiations have yet to reach a decisive stage.

“We are still far from the final discussion,” he added, signalling that while dialogue is ongoing, a comprehensive settlement has not yet been achieved.

Ghalibaf also asserted that Iran had maintained an upper hand during the recent weeks of conflict and suggested that Tehran agreed to the temporary ceasefire only after its conditions were acknowledged by Washington.

“If we accepted the ceasefire, it was because they accepted our demands,” he said, referring to the United States.

Emphasising Iran’s strategic position, he said the US had failed to accomplish its objectives, while Iran continued to exercise control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for global energy supplies.

“The enemy’s every effort was to impose its demands on us, and it is important that we register our rights, so this is where negotiation is a method of struggle,” Ghalibaf said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said that the country is determined to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and a lasting peace is achieved in the region.

The statement, reported by Iranian media, came after Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced earlier on Saturday the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing the continuation of US naval blockade against Iran.

The SNSC said it will control the strait by demanding vessel information, issuing passage permits, charging fees for security and environmental services, and directing traffic according to its regulations and wartime protocols, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mumbai: In a major breakthrough, Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell arrested a Nigerian national in Khar and seized cocaine worth crores along with a large quantity of MDMA tablets during a raid linked to the NESCO drugs party case. The case pertains to the drug case linked to the deaths of two youths at a concert in the NESCO Centre.

The arrest comes amid an ongoing crackdown on a suspected drug supply network operating around high-profile music events in Mumbai. Yesterday, the police also arrested the main accused from Poladpur in Raigad district while he was allegedly attempting to flee towards Goa. According to officials, the accused is suspected of distributing Ecstasy (MDMA) at the concert held on April 11, where two attendees died due to suspected drug overdose. He was intercepted and later handed over to the Vanrai Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the others who were arrested in the case were presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Borivali on April 18. The court remanded three accused, Anand Patel, Vineet Gerelani, and Ayush Sahitya, to police custody till April 20, while the other accused were sent to judicial custody. The court granted 14 days’ judicial custody to student Raunak Khandelwal, event organiser Akash Samal, NESCO staff members Sunny Jain and Balkrishnan Kurup, and student Pratik Pandey.

The case began after Shreya Rai (24) and Bismaad Bhasin (28) died of an MDMA overdose. Another attendee, Seetal Salvi (25) remains under observation at Bombay Hospital.

In the investigation, the police noted that the suspects were regular attendees at NESCO Centre events, suggesting a larger network operating at such gatherings. While the concert was permitted only until 10pm, it reportedly continued until 12.30am. Alcohol was also allegedly served to individuals under the age of 25, including the deceased Rai, which is illegal. The victims are suspected to have consumed a lethal combination of both drugs and alcohol.

A fire erupted at a shop in Crawford Market area of Mumbai, prompting a swift response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. Officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. Cooling operations are currently underway to prevent the fire from reigniting.

The incident comes just a day after a similar fire was reported near DB Marg, opposite Reliance Mall in Mumbai Central. The Level I fire broke out late at night and was confined to shops and rooms within a chawl structure.

Multiple agencies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, fire brigade, police, BEST staff, and ward officials, were deployed at the Mumbai Central site. The fire, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, spread due to closely packed shops.

While no injuries were reported in either incident, officials confirmed significant damage to property. The affected building had a vacant residential section and was already in a fragile condition, raising concerns over safety in densely populated commercial zones.

More details are awaited.