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US to begin blockade of Iranian ports after peace talks collapse

The US military announced on Sunday that it would initiate a blockade of all Iranian ports within hours, following the breakdown of peace negotiations in Pakistan. Washington attributed the failure of talks to Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions. This announcement comes despite a ceasefire agreed upon on Wednesday, intended to pause the six-week conflict until April 22. The blockade, set to begin at 1400 GMT on Monday, will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. US Central Command clarified that US forces would not impede vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports. US President Donald Trump stated his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping, asserting that Iran must not profit from controlling the waterway. He warned that any Iranian vessel firing at US forces or peaceful ships would face severe consequences. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in Pakistan, stated that the country would not yield to US threats, while navy chief Shahram Irani dismissed Trump's blockade threat as "ridiculous." Trump also threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing assisted Iran's military and warned of targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. The US delegation, which included Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jare