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 suggested discussions to end the conflict with Iran might restart this week, following the collapse of weekend negotiations. The US has maintained a maritime blockade of Iranian ports, restricting vessel traffic in the region. Trump’s remarks, shared in an interview with the New York Post, indicated a potential shift in strategy: “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there [Islamabad].”

The blockade, enforced by more than a dozen US warships and 10,000 troops, has cut off Iran’s access to critical shipping routes. As of Monday, no ships had entered or exited Iranian ports under the US-imposed restrictions, according to military reports. However, ship-tracking data revealed at least four vessels linked to Iran had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery, despite the blockade. Two of these ships had earlier docked at Iranian facilities, while others remained unconnected to the country.

“Highly probable” that talks would resume, the UN Secretary General António Guterres stated, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran were poised to return to Pakistan later this week. Gulf, Pakistani, and Iranian officials expressed optimism about resuming discussions, though no specific date had been confirmed.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on 28 February, has disrupted global energy flows. The blockade aims to weaken Tehran’s economy by targeting oil exports and toll revenue from ships passing through the strait. US Central Command noted that six merchant vessels had reversed course and returned to Iranian ports within the first 24 hours of the operation, though some continued to navigate the waterway.

Initial talks in Islamabad had failed to reach an agreement, with the US insisting on a 20-year halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran proposed a five-year pause. The standoff has raised questions about the two-week ceasefire’s sustainability, especially as the International Monetary Fund warned of economic fallout from the war. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the blockade, stating that short-term economic strain was necessary for long-term stability.

Meanwhile, China criticized the blockade as “dangerous and irresponsible,” predicting it would worsen tensions and jeopardize the fragile ceasefire. In a separate development, Israel and Lebanon announced direct negotiations after talks in Washington, marking the first such meeting since 1993. The Lebanese ambassador called the session “productive,” while the Israeli representative hailed it as a “new era of peace.”