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High-level talks between the United States and Iran ended without an agreement in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday. The breakdown leaves a fragile two-week ceasefire as the only barrier between diplomacy and a return to war. Pakistan, which played a key role in bringing both sides to the negotiating table, remains committed to facilitating further dialogue.The talks, the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, stalled over differences surrounding Iran's nuclear program. The US insisted on a commitment from Iran that it would not seek a nuclear weapon, while Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused the US of 'maximalism' and shifting demands.Despite the setback, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, emphasized that Pakistan will continue to play a role in facilitating engagements and dialogue between the two nations. Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also expressed optimism about the potential for future talks.The immediate threat to the ceasefire comes from the evolving situation in the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon. Iran has warned that continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon could render negotiations meaningless, while the US has announced a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran controls and uses as a key negotiating lever.Analysts say Pakistan's role is crucial in preventing a prolonged conflict, but its economic fragility and limited leverage constrain its ability to impose outcomes. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, have been praised by both Trump and Iranian officials for their efforts to secure the ceasefire and host the talks in Islamabad.

The United States, led by President Donald Trump, has announced its intention to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies, in a significant escalation of tensions with Iran. This move comes after talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to yield an agreement.In a social media post, Trump stated that the US Navy would begin the process of blockading any and all ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, which commenced at 10am Washington, DC, time (14:00 GMT) on Monday, has sparked concerns about the status of the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran announced last week.Analysts view Trump’s threat as a substantial escalation in the war on Iran. Chris Featherstone, a political scientist at the University of York, noted that Trump is using the blockade as a tool in negotiations with Iran, aiming to pressure the country to comply with US goals.The blockade could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. Iran has allowed ships from certain countries to pass through the strait during the conflict, but a blockade could disrupt these supplies.Jason Chuah, professor of maritime law at City St George’s, University of London, described the US actions as “sanctions with warships doing the bidding of President Trump,” rather than a classic blockade. He raised concerns about the legality of such actions under international maritime law, noting that the US is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.The international community remains divided on the issue, with the United Kingdom stating it will not support the blockade and China urging calm. The blockade’s impact on Iranian mines in the strait and shipping operations remains uncertain, with potential consequences for global energy security and the economy.

Islamabad transformed into a security zone on Saturday as the city imposed a lockdown, sealing roads, establishing checkpoints, and deploying over 10,000 security personnel ahead of the anticipated US‑Iran ceasefire talks. The Iranian delegation arrived quietly late on Friday night, traveling through Balochistan before a Pakistani Air Force aircraft switched off its call sign. By the next afternoon, the American team touched down at Nur Khan Air Base, a site India once claimed was damaged during last year’s brief conflict. On the tarmac, three distinctive tail fins—one American, two Iranian—caught the eye, a subtle reminder of the region’s reliance on symbolism. Both delegations were escorted along pre‑cleared routes to the Serena Hotel, which had been emptied and secured days earlier, turning the former luxury venue into a tightly controlled diplomatic arena. This marked the first direct, high‑level engagement between post‑revolution Iran and the United States on foreign soil. Clashing worldviews in the negotiation room Inside, the talks juxtaposed an American “peace through strength” stance with Iran’s “resistance with dignity” perspective. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif warned the night before that the meeting was a make‑or‑break moment for lasting peace. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, set pre‑conditions: any dialogue required progress on a Lebanon ceasefire—where Israel’s campaign has killed over 2,000 people—and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held abroad, which have crippled Tehran’s economy. Within hours of arrival, bilateral side‑talks began, offering a tentative thaw for Pakistani officials facilitating the process. Although previous rounds in Muscat, Vienna, Geneva and Abu Dhabi suffered from deep mistrust, this was the first occasion that the United States’ vice‑president JD Vance and Iran’s parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf faced each other face‑to‑face. Pakistan’s strategic mediating role Pakistan leveraged its unique position—close ties to Gulf states, a shared border with Iran, proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, and a strategic partnership with China—while not hosting US military bases. This allowed Islamabad to engage all parties without overt alignment. The marathon 21‑hour session Officials described the talks as continuous yet uneven. The first session lasted under two hours, followed by a brief procedural pause during which dinner was served but informal discussions continued. Subsequent rounds involved multiple draft exchanges and rapid redrawing of red lines, with constant communication to Washington—including President Donald Trump—and Tehran. Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Asim Munir, worked around the clock, aiming not for a final pact but for a framework to prevent further escalation. Why the talks stalled As the session entered its final phase, the United States signaled an abrupt end. JD Vance summed up the outcome: “We had substantive discussions, but no agreement.” He emphasized the US demand for an affirmative, long‑term commitment from Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, describing Washington’s proposal as its “final and best offer.” Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad framed the meeting as “not an event, but a process,” claiming it laid groundwork for future dialogue, while state‑affiliated outlets criticized the US stance as overly demanding. A senior Iranian foreign‑ministry spokesperson noted that, for Tehran, diplomacy is a continuation of its broader struggle, and any progress hinges on the other side’s “seriousness and good faith.” Pakistan’s cautious post‑talk posture Finance Minister Dar thanked both sides and pledged continued facilitation, avoiding any claim of victory or admission of failure. Behind the scenes, officials acknowledged pressure from multiple fronts—including Israel, whose prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is perceived by some sources as a major obstacle to peace. Aftermath in Islamabad The city did not immediately revert to normal; security checkpoints and traffic diversions persisted, and the Serena Hotel remained under tight control. Journalists reported a disciplined environment with limited leaks, suggesting a deliberate effort to contain information. As the delegations departed, the door on diplomatic engagement remained open, albeit without a concrete agreement. The talks, though inconclusive, demonstrated that high‑level US‑Iran dialogue is possible under Pakistan’s mediation, preserving a channel that could prove pivotal in future regional negotiations.

The U.S. military announced that, starting at 14:00 GMT on Monday, it will enforce a blockade of every Iranian port, a step taken after President Donald Trump ordered a naval closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the waterway through which roughly one‑fifth of global crude oil normally flows. The blockade comes on the heels of stalled peace negotiations in Islamabad, where talks between Washington and Tehran collapsed without an agreement despite a prior cease‑fire pledge. Trump’s escalation has already driven crude prices above $100 per barrel and unsettled Asian equity markets, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.84%, the Topix slipping 0.42% and South Korea’s Kospi falling 1.83%. Iran’s response is equally forceful. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any vessel entering the strait would be deemed a breach of the cease‑fire and dealt with “harshly and decisively,” insisting it has “full control” and threatening a “deadly vortex” for any misstep. Navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed Trump’s threat as “ridiculous and funny,” while state television said Iranian forces are closely monitoring U.S. movements. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lamented “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” that undermined a near‑final Islamabad memorandum, quoting, “Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.” Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf pledged resistance and mocked U.S. gasoline prices, posting a map of Washington‑area pump prices and predicting nostalgia for $4‑$5 gas. U.S. Central Command clarified that the blockade will stop all vessels bound for or from Iran, while traffic to non‑Iranian ports will continue unhindered. Trump also warned that any ship that has paid an “illegal toll” to Iran will be intercepted on the high seas, and he publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV for urging an end to the conflict. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least five people, bringing the country’s overall death toll to 2,055. Hezbollah retaliated with a rocket barrage aimed at northern Israeli towns, citing violations of a cease‑fire. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that an Israeli tank rammed peace‑keeping vehicles twice in the south. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops on the Lebanese border, claiming that Hezbollah’s invasion threat has been neutralized, though he acknowledged that hostilities continue within the security zone. On the energy front, shipping through the Hormuz corridor has “immediately halted,” according to Lloyd’s List, with several vessels turning back after the blockade announcement, further tightening global oil supplies.

The United States military confirmed that, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (14:00 GMT) on April 13, all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports will be blocked. The directive, issued by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), targets vessels of every nation operating in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, but explicitly excludes ships merely transiting the Strait of Hormuz to non‑Iranian ports, marking a narrower scope than former President Donald Trump’s broader strait‑wide threat. This decisive action follows the abrupt end of marathon peace talks in Islamabad, where negotiators failed to secure a memorandum of understanding with Tehran. The stalemate has revived fears of renewed hostilities, prompting the U.S. to leverage maritime pressure as a bargaining chip. Financial markets reacted sharply: U.S. crude oil prices surged 8 % to $104.24 per barrel, while the benchmark Brent crude rose 7 % to $102.29. The spikes reflect investor anxiety over potential disruptions to the flow of oil and liquefied natural gas that currently passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint responsible for roughly one‑fifth of global energy shipments. Since the February 28 launch of a joint U.S.–Israel operation against Iran, the strait’s traffic has dwindled to a trickle. Iran continues to navigate its own vessels and has allowed limited passage for foreign ships, while discussing a post‑conflict toll system for the waterway. In response to the blockade threat, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any U.S. warship attempting to enforce the measure would breach the existing U.S.–Iran ceasefire—set to expire on April 22—and would be "dealt with severely." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed the United States for the diplomatic failure, accusing U.S. negotiators of "shifting the goalposts" when a deal was "just inches away." Academic commentary echoed regional concerns. Zohreh Kharazmi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, asserted that the United States "is not in a position to dictate" Iranian maritime movements and warned that a prolonged standoff would quickly reveal which side—"the resilience of the Islamic Republic or the resilience of global markets"—would suffer first. While the blockade targets Iranian ports, CENTCOM emphasized that it will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels merely passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a subtle but significant concession aimed at avoiding a full‑scale maritime confrontation.

Tehran – Iranian officials warned that the United States must increase pressure for any peace agreement while urging their supporters to keep the streets under control.Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the US delegation in Islamabad “failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation” during the marathon talks.US President Donald Trump announced an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and declared that US forces are “locked and loaded” to finish Iran at the “appropriate moment.”Iran hailed the delegation’s refusal to accept Washington’s core demands – ending nuclear enrichment and relinquishing control of the Strait – as a sign of defiant resolve.Judiciary chief Gholam‑Hossein Mohseni‑Ejei thanked the Islamabad team for “guarding the rights” of government supporters, including paramilitary forces that have been gathering in Tehran’s main squares for more than six weeks.State television aired an IRGC aerospace officer urging flag‑waving crowds not to worry, stating, “If the enemy does not understand, we will make them understand,” which was met with cheers demanding more missile and drone attacks.Iranian officials blamed Trump’s “excessive demands” for the talks’ failure, noting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not expect an agreement after a single day of negotiations.Hard‑line parliamentarians expressed satisfaction with the stalemate, viewing Iran as holding the upper hand. Deputy speaker Hamidreza Haji‑Babaei said only a UN Security Council resolution signalling US surrender would lift sanctions on Iran.Lawmaker Amir Hossein Sabeti of the Paydari faction thanked the negotiating team for standing by red lines and called for “resistance in the field against these evildoers.”The sudden announcement of a two‑week cease‑fire left pro‑state voices disappointed; local media reported the Iranian delegation numbered over 85 members, including state‑affiliated journalists and factional analysts.The talks confirmed that a diplomatic breakthrough was not imminent and hinted at further escalation, though not necessarily a return to full‑scale fighting.National security commission head Ebrahim Azizi dismissed Trump’s blockade threats as “excessive talk.”The IRGC warned it would meet any vessel passing the Strait of Hormuz with “full force” and rejected US claims that two warships had already transited the waterway.Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian he remains ready to facilitate a Middle‑East peace settlement.Pezeshkian, focused on domestic affairs, reaffirmed support for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and announced that schools and universities will continue online via a limited intranet.Iran’s economy continues to suffer from chronic inflation, rising unemployment and a near‑total internet shutdown, deepening public hardship.

The recent ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran have ended without a breakthrough, with Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, blaming the US for the failure of the talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The talks, which were the first direct engagement between the two countries at this level since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, exposed deep divisions on core issues.The US framed the lack of a breakthrough primarily around Iran's alleged refusal to meet its core demand: a firm commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had made its 'red lines' clear and presented what he described as a 'final and best offer'. However, Iran downplayed expectations and blamed the US for making unreasonable demands.The main sticking points between Tehran and Washington are:Iran's nuclear programme: The US wants a clear and enforceable commitment that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons – or even the capability to do so quickly. Iran has consistently rejected accusations that it seeks to build nuclear weapons but said it is willing to negotiate limits on its nuclear activities if sanctions are removed.Strait of Hormuz: Who gets to control this strategic waterway, through which almost all of the oil and natural gas exports from the Gulf nations pass, has become a major flashpoint. Iran has floated the idea of charging transit fees to allow ships to pass through the strait, while the US is adamant the strait is reopened free of any tolls.The near shutdown of shipping through the strait has sent global energy prices soaring with many countries, especially in Asia, forced to implement unprecedented austerity measures to soften the impact of fuel shortages. Experts said the near-closure of the strait has caused the worst economic shock since the 1973 oil embargo.

Day 44 of the US‑Iran war ended without a peace deal as a marathon 21‑hour session in Islamabad collapsed, jeopardising the fragile cease‑fire that has held since the conflict began over six weeks ago.Vice President JD Vance, leading the US delegation, told reporters that the lack of an agreement was "bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America," before departing Pakistan.Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar pledged that Islamabad would continue to facilitate dialogue between the two longtime adversaries.In Iran, officials downplayed expectations, noting that no one anticipated a settlement in a single session. State‑run IRIB quoted ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying the talks were never expected to conclude quickly. Meanwhile, Tehran residents expressed a mix of scepticism and hope after weeks of air attacks that have left a nation of 93 million people reeling; more than 2,000 Iranians have been killed in the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict.In the United States, Vance reiterated that the delegation left with a "final and best offer" for Iran, emphasizing that Washington had communicated its position repeatedly during the talks. He cited multiple conversations with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Central Command head Brad Cooper. Trump, however, maintained that the US had already "won" on the battlefield by eliminating Iranian leaders and key infrastructure, stating that a deal would not alter the outcome.The US military reported that two destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz ahead of planned mine‑clearing operations – a first since hostilities began – though Iran’s state media claimed the joint command denied the movement.Academic David Des Roches of the Thayer Marshall Institute told Al Jazeera that while Washington clarified its stance, it did not shift its core demand: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.In Lebanon, Israel continued strikes, claiming to have hit a "loaded and ready‑to‑launch rocket launcher" in Jouaiya, southern Lebanon. Protests have erupted in Beirut against any direct Israel‑Lebanon negotiations. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported at least 2,020 deaths and 6,436 injuries from Israeli attacks since March 2.In Israel, Channel 12 reported that a drone launched from Lebanon triggered sirens in the Upper Galilee before being intercepted.The stalemate has kept global oil and gas prices soaring, underscoring the broader economic ripple effects of a war that shows no sign of abating.

In a statement issued after the conclusion of recent diplomatic discussions, Pakistan appealed to the United States and Iran to preserve the existing ceasefire. The Pakistani government emphasized that maintaining the truce is essential for regional stability and to prevent a resurgence of hostilities. By urging both parties to honor their commitments, Islamabad aims to reinforce peace efforts and avoid further escalation.