US Imposes Blockade on Iranian Ports Amid Failed Talks
The US military announced it will impose a blockade on all Iranian ports starting at 1400 GMT on Monday, following failed talks between Iran and Washington's delegation in Pakistan.
The blockade is aimed at forcing Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz trade route, which has been heavily restricted since the start of the war. US Central Command said vessels transiting the strait to and from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded, but all ships entering or departing Iranian ports will be subject to the blockade.
Oil prices jumped around eight percent on Monday, with both key WTI and Brent contracts topping $100 a barrel. The move sparked fears of renewed fighting in the region, which has already been ravaged by violence since the start of the war in late February.
Pakistan, which hosted the failed talks, expressed hopes that it can continue facilitating a dialogue between Iran and Washington, calling on both sides to honor the fragile two-week ceasefire. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would 'not bow to any threats' from Washington, while navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump's blockade threat 'ridiculous'. China, a key importer of Iranian oil and a rival power to the US, criticized the plan, urging Iran and the US not to reignite the war.