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 suggested that discussions to conclude the conflict with Iran might begin this week, following the weekend’s collapsed talks that led to the US imposing a maritime blockade on Iranian ports. His remarks came as military officials confirmed no ships had traversed the blockade in its first 24 hours, raising concerns about the future of a two-week ceasefire set to expire 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 was quoted as saying in an interview with the New York Post. The Iranian side has not yet commented on his remarks, though United Nations Secretary General António Guterres noted it was “highly probable” that negotiations would restart.
Meanwhile, Gulf, Pakistani, and Iranian officials mentioned that diplomatic teams from Washington and Tehran could reconvene in Pakistan later this week, with no specific date finalized, according to Reuters. The renewed optimism about dialogue eased oil market tensions, pushing benchmark prices beneath $100 on Tuesday.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas transport, since it faced strikes from US and Israeli forces on 28 February. The blockade, enforced by over a dozen US warships and 10,000 military personnel, targets Iran’s key revenue streams: oil exports and tolls collected from vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
Ship-tracking data from BBC Verify revealed at least four Iranian-linked ships crossed the strait despite the blockade, with two previously docked at Iranian ports. Three additional non-Iranian vessels also navigated the channel after the blockade began. US Central Command stated six merchant ships had complied with US directives to return to Iranian ports during the first 24 hours.
Initial high-level talks in Islamabad over the weekend failed to yield an agreement, with the US insisting Iran had not accepted its terms. Nuclear ambitions were a major issue, as the US proposed a 20-year pause on uranium enrichment, while Iranian sources suggested a five-year halt.
As the International Monetary Fund warned the war could trigger a global recession, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the blockade, stating “a small bit of economic pain” was justified for long-term security. China, however, criticized the move as “dangerous and irresponsible,” warning it would worsen tensions and weaken the fragile ceasefire.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon agreed to direct talks in Washington after discussions in the US state department, marking the first such meetings between the two nations since 1993. The Lebanese ambassador called the session “productive,” while the Israeli representative hailed it as “a new era of peace.” A US official clarified the negotiations in Islamabad were unrelated to the Israel-Lebanon dialogue.
