Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues
Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues
President Donald Trump has hinted that discussions to resolve the conflict with Iran might restart this week, following the collapse of weekend negotiations. The U.S. military confirmed that no vessels had traversed the Iranian ports under its blockade in the first 24 hours, intensifying tensions over the two-week ceasefire set to end next week.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there [Islamabad],” Trump said in an interview with the New York Post.
Iranian officials have yet to respond to Trump’s suggestion, but United Nations Secretary General António Guterres indicated it was “highly probable” that talks would resume. Negotiation teams from Washington and Tehran are expected to return to Pakistan later this week, though no specific date has been set, according to Reuters.
Hopes for continued diplomacy eased oil market concerns, with benchmark prices dropping below $100 on Tuesday. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas transport, since it was struck by U.S. and Israeli air raids on February 28. The U.S. now employs over a dozen warships and 10,000 personnel to enforce the blockade, cutting off Iran’s access to critical economic resources.
The blockade targets two major income sources for Iran: oil revenue and the tolls collected from ships passing through the strait. U.S. Central Command reported that six merchant vessels had followed orders to return to Iranian ports within the first 24 hours. However, ship-tracking data from BBC Verify revealed at least four Iran-linked ships had crossed the strait despite the blockade, with two previously stationed at Iranian ports.
Three non-Iranian vessels also navigated the waterway after the blockade began, as noted by BBC Verify. The initial talks in Islamabad had stalled, with the U.S. citing Iran’s refusal to accept its terms on nuclear enrichment. A U.S. official told CBS News that Washington had proposed a 20-year halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran sought a five-year pause.
As the International Monetary Fund warned of potential global recession due to the war, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the blockade, calling the economic strain “worthwhile for long-term international security.” Meanwhile, China criticized the move as “dangerous and irresponsible,” predicting it would “exacerbate tensions” and weaken the fragile ceasefire.
Israel and Lebanon initiated direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, following Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in northern Lebanon. The meeting marked the first such dialogue since 1993, with the Lebanese ambassador calling it “productive” and the Israeli representative heralding it as “a new era of peace.” A U.S. official clarified that these talks were unrelated to the ongoing discussions with Iran in Islamabad.