WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump has indicated that negotiations with Iran to end the ongoing conflict could restart as early as this week, following the collapse of talks over the weekend that led to the United States imposing a maritime blockade on Iranian ports.
In an interview with the New York Post, Trump suggested that developments could occur within days, hinting at renewed diplomatic engagement. Meanwhile, the US military reported that no vessels passed through the restricted Iranian coastal areas during the first 24 hours of the blockade.
The ongoing standoff has cast uncertainty over a proposed two-week ceasefire set to expire soon. While Iran has yet to respond to Trump’s comments, António Guterres said it is “highly probable” that negotiations will resume.
Officials from Gulf countries, Pakistan, and Iran have also indicated that delegations from Washington and Tehran may reconvene in Pakistan later this week, although no fixed date has been confirmed.
Signs of possible diplomatic progress have helped ease global oil market concerns, with benchmark prices dropping below $100 per barrel. However, tensions remain high after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli airstrikes in late February.
The US has deployed more than a dozen warships and around 10,000 troops to enforce the blockade, significantly restricting maritime access to Iran and intensifying economic pressure on the country.
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