Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues
President Donald Trump suggested that discussions to end the conflict with Iran might restart this week, following failed negotiations over the weekend. The U.S. military reported no ships had crossed the restricted zones in the first 24 hours of the blockade, which aims to cut off Iran’s access to a key economic lifeline. The operation has sparked uncertainty about the viability 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 in an interview with the New York Post. The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres noted it was “highly probable” that talks would recommence, while Gulf, Pakistani, and Iranian officials mentioned that delegations from Washington and Tehran might return to Pakistan later this week, though no specific date was confirmed.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route, since it was targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes on 28 February. The blockade, enforced by over a dozen U.S. warships and 10,000 troops, targets Iran’s oil revenue and the tolls it demands from ships using the strait. Ship-tracking data revealed four Iranian-linked vessels had crossed the strait despite the restrictions, with two previously docked at Iranian ports.
Initial talks in Islamabad collapsed without agreement, with the U.S. insisting Iran hadn’t accepted its terms. Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a major issue, as the U.S. proposed a 20-year pause on uranium enrichment, while Tehran suggested a five-year halt. Amid warnings from the International Monetary Fund about economic recession, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that “a small bit of economic pain” was justified for long-term security.
China criticized the blockade as “dangerous and irresponsible,” warning it would worsen tensions and weaken the fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon announced direct negotiations after talks in Washington, marking the first such meeting since 1993. The Lebanese ambassador called it “productive,” while the Israeli ambassador described it as a “new era of peace.” A U.S. official clarified that the Iran discussions in Islamabad were unrelated to the Israel-Lebanon talks.
