Us imposes naval blockade on iran ports as talks stall
The United States began enforcing a sweeping naval blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports on Monday, marking a sharp escalation as Washington and Tehran weigh a return to negotiations ahead of a fragile ceasefire deadline on April 21.
The US Central Command said the blockade took effect at 10 a.m. Eastern Time across the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The restriction applies to all vessels regardless of flag, according to a maritime advisory reviewed by Reuters. The move followed the collapse of weekend peace talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said negotiations lasted 21 hours but failed after Iran declined to commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons program, according to the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian warship approaching the blockade would be “immediately eliminated.” Tehran condemned the action as piracy, while protests erupted in the Iranian capital.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the blockade would increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement, describing the measure as highly effective.
Deep divisions remain over nuclear terms. Iran has proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years, while the United States is demanding a 20-year freeze, according to The New York Times. Disputes also persist over Iran’s support for regional armed groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and over access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.
Despite the standoff, both sides have signaled openness to further talks. Sources told Reuters that negotiators could return to Islamabad later this week, with a possible meeting window between Friday and Sunday.
The two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan on April 7, is set to expire on April 21. Saudi Arabia has warned Washington that Iran could retaliate by closing the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea, a key corridor for the kingdom’s oil exports.
Trump said Iran was in a weak position but maintained that a diplomatic resolution remained possible, provided it aligns with US conditions.
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