Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues

Trump Hints Iran Talks Could Resume This Week as US Blockade Continues

Donald Trump, the current U.S. president, indicated that discussions to end the Iran conflict might recommence this week. His comments followed the collapse of weekend negotiations in Islamabad, which led to the imposition of a maritime blockade on Iranian ports. “You should stay there [Islamabad], really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with the New York Post.

The standoff has sparked uncertainty about the future of a two-week ceasefire, set to expire next week. While the Iranian side has not yet responded to Trump’s remarks, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stated it was “highly probable” that talks would restart. Officials from the Gulf, Pakistan, and Iran also mentioned that negotiation teams from Washington and Tehran could return to Pakistan later this week, though no specific date has been confirmed, Reuters news agency reports.

“You should stay there [Islamabad], really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. military confirmed that no ships had crossed the Iranian ports under the blockade during its first 24 hours. However, ship-tracking data from BBC Verify revealed that at least four vessels linked to Iran had navigated the Strait of Hormuz despite the restrictions. Two of these ships had previously been stationed at Iranian ports, while three others, not connected to Iran, also crossed the waterway after the blockade began on Monday.

Iran has effectively controlled the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route, since it was targeted by U.S. and Israeli air strikes on February 28. The blockade, enforced by more than a dozen U.S. warships and around 10,000 military personnel, aims to cut off Iran’s access to key economic resources. This includes oil revenue and the tolls collected from ships passing through the strait, which are critical to Tehran’s financial stability.

Initial talks in Islamabad failed to reach an agreement, with the U.S. asserting that Iran did not accept its conditions. A major dispute centered on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with the U.S. proposing a 20-year halt to uranium enrichment. Iranian representatives, however, suggested a five-year suspension, according to sources cited by other U.S. media outlets.

As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the conflict could lead to a global economic downturn, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the BBC that “a small bit of economic pain is worthwhile for long-term international security.” On Tuesday, China criticized the blockade as “dangerous and irresponsible,” warning it would “exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement.”

Separately, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to hold direct negotiations following discussions in Washington. These talks stem from Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. The meeting at the U.S. state department marked the first direct dialogue between the two nations since 1993, with the Lebanese ambassador describing it as “productive” and the Israeli ambassador calling it a “path to a new era of peace.”

A U.S. official clarified that the Iran-U.S. negotiations in Islamabad were unrelated to the Israel-Lebanon discussions in Washington. The ongoing standoff continues to shape geopolitical dynamics, with the U.S. seeking to pressure Tehran through economic measures while maintaining hopes for diplomatic resolution.