US-Iran Negotiations Stall; Blockade and Military Tensions Continue

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.

The White House is experiencing a sense of panic as the war drags on and affects Republican odds of maintaining House control.

The Iran war has caused long-lasting damage to the Republican Party, fracturing the anti-war coalition that supported Trump's 2024 win. Tucker Carlson issued an apology for his yearslong advocacy of Trump, joining other figures like former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alex Jones in dissenting from MAGA positions.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that Trump's diplomatic team continues to engage with the Iranian regime and that the American people can count on Trump being proven right. " — Kush Desai, White House spokesperson (Axios) Vice President Vance has the worst approval rating of any vice president at this point in their term, according to CNN analyst Harry Enten.

RNC spokesperson Kiersten Pels commented on related domestic issues, noting Republican unity behind a midterm strategy despite setbacks in states like Virginia.