US-Iran Tensions Rise Amid Failed Peace Talks and Blockade Threats
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded to US President Donald Trump's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, following unsuccessful peace talks in Islamabad that lasted 21 hours. Ghalibaf warned that blocking the strait could lead to a significant surge in oil prices, referencing a formula that suggests prices would rise exponentially. Trump announced the blockade would begin on April 13 at 10:00 AM ET, affecting all vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports. The US Central Command stated the blockade would be enforced impartially, while Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any attempt to blockade would be considered an act of war. The failed negotiations were attributed to disagreements over Iran's nuclear programme and control of the strait, with the current ceasefire set to end on April 21.
Published 1 day ago • 13 Apr 2026, 05:23 PM IST