President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that U.S.-Iran negotiations could resume this week in Pakistan, even as American forces enforced a tight naval blockade on Iranian ports and coastal waters.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Trump revealed talks “could be happening over the next two days” in Islamabad. An earlier round of peace discussions there collapsed due to irreconcilable differences over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. See more on Trump here.
U.S. Central Command celebrated the blockade’s first 24 hours as a triumph, reporting zero ships breached the restricted zones. Six commercial vessels obeyed orders to reverse course, Centcom stated. Live updates on the blockade and Strait of Hormuz tensions here.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediated landmark talks between Lebanese and Israeli envoys—the first in decades. These come amid ongoing clashes, with Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah exchanging rockets and strikes.
The escalation followed Hezbollah’s rocket barrages on northern Israel days after the U.S. and Israel initiated war against Iran. Israel retaliated with devastating airstrikes on Beirut and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.