The United States will not lift its naval blockade on Iran’s ports until a formal agreement is reached with Tehran, Donald Trump, US president has said, as uncertainty deepens over whether fresh peace talks will take place.
The blockade, imposed a week ago, is “absolutely destroying Iran”, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the United States was winning the conflict “by a lot”.
Read also: Why the US is blockading Iranian ports, what it means for global trade
His remarks come as a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran approaches its expiry on Wednesday, with no clear confirmation that a second round of negotiations will go ahead in Islamabad.
Security has been tightened in the Pakistani capital in anticipation of possible talks. But JD Vance, US vice president, who is expected to lead the American delegation, has yet to depart Washington. Iranian officials have also said they have not decided whether they will attend.
Since the blockade began, US forces have turned back at least 27 vessels, according to United States Central Command. In a further escalation, US troops intercepted and seized an Iranian flagged cargo ship on Sunday after it attempted to pass through the restricted zone. Video footage released by the military appeared to show troops boarding the vessel after issuing warnings.
Tehran condemned the seizure as an “act of piracy” and said it violated the fragile ceasefire, according to BBC.
Iran, for its part, has maintained its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, for nearly two months. The closure has driven up global oil prices and raised fears of wider economic disruption.
The strait briefly reopened on Saturday but was quickly shut again after reports that vessels in or near the route, including a tanker, were targeted. Trump accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire, saying Tehran had “decided to fire bullets” in what he described as a “total violation”.
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Iran has insisted it will keep the waterway closed until the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports.
Diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. After the first round of talks earlier this month, Vance said
Washington “could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms”, while Iran’s foreign ministry urged the United States to avoid “excessive demands and unlawful requests”, according to BBC.
Despite the deadlock, there are signs that negotiations may still go ahead. US officials have indicated that a delegation could depart soon, although no timetable has been confirmed. Iranian authorities, however, say that “so far” there are no plans to attend.
Vance is expected to be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who were part of the first round of discussions. It remains unclear who, if anyone, will represent Iran.
For now, the situation remains finely balanced. With the ceasefire deadline approaching and both sides holding firm, the prospect of renewed talks offers a narrow path away from further escalation. Whether either side is ready to take it remains uncertain.
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