U.S. Blockade Bites as Israel and Lebanon Agree to Begin Direct Peace Talks

Overview

• Israeli and Lebanese envoys met Tuesday in Washington under U.S. mediation and agreed to open direct negotiations, which both sides described as a constructive first contact.
• Hezbollah, which rejects the process as a capitulation, claimed near‑simultaneous strikes on 13 towns in northern Israel shortly after the Washington meeting began.
• The U.S. naval blockade that started Monday at Iranian ports prevented six departures in its first 24 hours, and Centcom said it has now stopped Iran’s maritime trade.
• President Donald Trump said late Tuesday the war is "almost over" and floated a return to Pakistan‑based U.S.–Iran talks within days, while Vice President J.D. Vance said the ball is in Tehran’s court.
• Energy officials warned of deeper fallout as the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained, with the IEA saying April could be worse than March for supply while the U.S. ends temporary relief on some Iran oil sanctions.