19:00 News in Brief: Iran-US Tensions, Lputyan's Controversial Arrest

Today's news highlights summarized:

• Iran rejects negotiations with the US as long as the naval blockade is in place.
• Washington has declared its readiness to continue its campaign of "maximum pressure" and destroy Iran's infrastructure.
• The US Secretary of Energy deems the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz unsafe and rules out the easing of sanctions.
• Reports of gunfire and casualties in Chernihiv, Ukraine, have been denied; only a starter pistol was seized.
• Thousands protested in Tokyo and other cities against Japan's militarization and constitutional amendments.
• Grandmaster Smbat Lputyan and the rector of the Pedagogical University have been arrested in connection with alleged job-related fraud.
• The European Weightlifting Championship begins in Batumi, featuring members of the Armenian women's team first.
• Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has sustained a serious injury and was carried off on a stretcher.
• Intensive rains and a drop in temperature are expected across Armenia and in Yerevan on April 20-21.