Overview
- Following the weekend collapse of U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad over control of the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear limits, Washington announced a naval blockade to choke off Iranian oil exports and crude prices jumped above $104 a barrel.
- U.S. officials are also considering limited strikes against Iran, according to reporting cited from the Wall Street Journal, signaling military options are on the table alongside the blockade.
- Despite the public escalation, sources told Reuters that dialogue has not stopped and negotiators had completed about 80% of an agreement before the impasse.
- Trump launched an unprecedented attack on Pope Leone XIV, calling him weak and poor on foreign policy, and the Pope replied that he is not afraid and will keep speaking for peace.
- Tensions widened Tuesday when Trump told the Corriere della Sera he was “shocked” by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she condemned his remarks about the Pope, deepening a rift with a key European partner as Iranian officials mocked the U.S. threats and warned fuel costs will climb.