Washington,(Parliament Times):US President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed gratitude to Pakistan for hosting high-stakes negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, but confirmed that the United States Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz after talks failed to yield a decisive agreement.
The marathon discussions, which lasted nearly 21 hours, ended without a breakthrough despite progress on several issues. Both sides blamed each other for the deadlock, particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme — the central sticking point.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, for facilitating the dialogue. He described the talks as productive overall but stressed that the most critical issue — Iran’s nuclear ambitions — remained unresolved.
Trump noted that while negotiators developed mutual respect during the lengthy discussions, Iran remained firm in refusing to abandon its nuclear programme. He reiterated his longstanding position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
Following the collapse of negotiations, Trump announced immediate steps to enforce a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route. He said US forces would intercept vessels suspected of paying transit fees to Iran and begin clearing alleged naval mines in the area.
Calling Iran’s actions “world extortion,” Trump warned that any hostile move against US forces or commercial shipping would be met with a strong response. He also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened during the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning, stating that any miscalculation by the US could lead to serious consequences in the narrow waterway. Iranian officials asserted that they maintain full control over the strait.
Senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati reiterated Tehran’s stance, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly under Iranian control and that the country’s diplomatic efforts are focused on safeguarding its sovereignty.
Iran has reportedly demanded control over the strait, payment of war reparations, the release of frozen assets, and a broader regional ceasefire. It also seeks to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the route.
Despite rising tensions, some oil shipments have resumed, with a few tankers successfully navigating the strait. However, many vessels remain stranded, awaiting safe passage amid ongoing uncertainty.
While the US insists on ensuring free navigation and curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Tehran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its programme is for peaceful purposes.