Overview
- Following Sunday's breakdown of the Islamabad talks, Vice President J.D. Vance said no agreement was reached and left Pakistan after presenting what he called a final offer.
- Negotiators deadlocked over three issues: reopening the Strait of Hormuz to full traffic, the fate of roughly 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets and demanded war damages.
- Washington signaled new pressure, with President Donald Trump threatening a naval blockade and U.S. Central Command saying two destroyers moved to start mine-clearing operations at Hormuz.
- Tehran pushed back, as the Revolutionary Guard warned it would answer any military ship transits through the strait and officials denied the U.S. account of destroyers crossing.
- The pause halts the highest-level direct U.S.–Iran contacts since 1979 and leaves a chokepoint that carries about a fifth of global oil uncertain, a risk that could disrupt energy flows and raise costs for shippers and consumers.