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US-Iran Negotiations Stall; Blockade and Military Tensions Continue
Negotiations between the United States and Iran remain uncertain as Iranian officials deny reports of internal changes in their team and insist on ending the US blockade before talks proceed. President Trump stated that US officials are engaging with current Iranian leaders, while military actions including a naval blockade and mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz escalate tensions.
The IndependentAudio version
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The United States and Iran have not scheduled a new round of talks, according to Iranian media reports, amid ongoing disputes over the US naval blockade and recent military actions. President Trump said US officials are negotiating with "the people who are in charge now" in Iran, as stated in a recent announcement.
Iranian parliamentary media denied reports that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf resigned as head of the negotiating team, clarifying that no new talks are planned yet.
The US Navy continues to enforce a blockade against Iranian ports, with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Rafael Peralta escorting the Iranian-flagged crude oil tanker M/T HERBY in the Indian Ocean on April 24. Iran laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz for the second time since the war began, prompting Trump to state on Truth Social that any Iranian boat caught doing so should be shot and destroyed without hesitation.
The Pentagon estimated that clearing these mines could take up to six months. >"Shoot and destroy any Iranian boat caught doing it. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 78% of voters consider gas prices a "very big concern," and 77% blame Trump. The conflict has exacerbated Iran's economic crisis, forcing many residents to cross into Turkey for basic goods like cooking oil.
A long-term closure of the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a worldwide recession, including in the United States, according to economic analysis.
Iran stated it would not engage in talks unless the United States ends the blockade, though an Iranian delegation is en route to Islamabad. In the US, Congress faces a nearing 60-day window under the War Powers Act to vote on the war. Trump's approval ratings have plunged to a second-term low, with Fox News polling showing Democrats leading Republicans by 4 percentage points on the economy, the first such lead since 2010.
