US Announces Blockade on Iranian Port Vessels

The United States military announced Sunday that it will impose a maritime blockade on all vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports starting Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, a move aimed at pressuring Tehran following the collapse of nuclear negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. The action, directed by U.S. Central Command, targets traffic to and from Iranian facilities along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but will not restrict ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports, preserving freedom of navigation in the vital waterway that handles about one-fifth of global oil supplies.

The blockade comes after nearly 20 hours of talks between U.S. and Iranian officials ended without agreement, despite progress on several issues. President Donald Trump stated that most points had been resolved, but Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions, which he described as the core obstacle. "Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the U.S. would respond with immediate measures to restore open navigation. He accused Iran of creating uncertainty in the strait through alleged naval mines and tolls, actions that have...