President Trump says the United States will blockade the Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on Iran after high-level peace talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement.
What happened in Islamabad
– Senior U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan in two weeks of talks aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire. U.S. attendees included Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation was led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
– After roughly 21 hours of marathon negotiations, Vice President Vance said there were “a number of substantive discussions” but no final deal. He warned the lack of agreement was “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States.”
Key outstanding issues
U.S. officials said negotiators failed to reach consensus on several major items, including:
– Ending Iran’s uranium enrichment and dismantling enrichment facilities;
– Retrieving or securing existing uranium stockpiles;
– Securing a broader regional peace, including steps to end funding for proxy groups such as Hezbollah;
– Fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and assuring free passage without tolls.
Strait of Hormuz and military steps
– The Strait is a critical shipping lane for about one-fifth of the world’s oil. With talks stalled, U.S. officials signaled tougher measures: President Trump announced a blockade option for the waterway.
– Separately, U.S. warships transited the Strait for the first time since the war began as part of efforts to clear mines. That operation and any blockade raise the risk of wider military engagement if tensions escalate.
Regional and diplomatic response
– Pakistan, which hosted the negotiations, urged both sides to uphold the ceasefire and said it would attempt to host further talks.
– Mushahid Hussain Syed, a Pakistani senator involved in the mediation, said the talks reflected a serious intent on both sides to give peace a chance despite harsh rhetoric prior to the meetings.
Political impact at home
– A new CBS poll showed President Trump taking a political hit over the situation: 64% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the crisis, and 66% say the administration has not clearly explained U.S. goals.
Outlook
With major security, nuclear and regional-security issues unresolved—and with reopening the Strait a central demand—diplomatic progress remains uncertain. The breakdown increases the risk that U.S. policy may shift from containment and negotiation to more forceful measures, including economic and maritime actions, raising stakes for the ceasefire and regional stability.