Overview
- The U.S. military, which began enforcing a blockade of ships to and from Iranian ports on Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, said neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz to non‑Iranian destinations would continue.
- Early compliance included several merchant vessels turning back, then tracking on Tuesday showed at least eight crossings and a Chinese‑owned tanker, Rich Starry, clearing the strait after first reversing course.
- Iran denounced the action as piracy and warned that no port in the Gulf or Gulf of Oman would be safe, as President Trump said any remaining Iranian fast‑attack boats that approach the blockade would be eliminated.
- Britain and France declined to join the operation and instead pushed to reopen the waterway, with Paris and London preparing a defensive navigation mission that would start only once conditions permit.
- Trump said talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan within the next two days after the first round in Islamabad ended without a deal, while oil prices hovered near then slipped below $100 as the IMF and IEA flagged risks to growth if disruptions persist.