President Donald Trump Sunday said the United States will blocade the Stratit of Hormuz but also indicated that dialogue with Iran remains open despite the collapse of high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared:
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.”
He further warned that U.S. forces would “seek and interdict” vessels that had paid tolls to Iran, stressing: “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
In a separate post, Trump shared an article from Just the News discussing the effectiveness of naval blockades, signaling that such a move had long been under active consideration.
Meanwhie speaking on Sunday, hours after U.S.–Iran discussions concluded in a deadlock, Trump said the Iranian side “hasn’t left the bargaining table” and predicted that negotiations could resume, even as he maintained a firm stance on Washington’s core demands.
“I predict they come back, and they give us everything we want,” Trump said in an interview on Sunday Morning Futures. “I told my people, I want everything. I don’t want 90 percent, I don’t want 95 percent.”
The talks, mediated by Pakistan, broke down primarily over Iran’s refusal to provide categorical assurances that it would permanently abandon nuclear weapons ambitions—a central demand of the United States.
Deadlock After Marathon Talks
The negotiations, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, spanned nearly 20 hours across multiple sessions in Islamabad.
Despite what both sides described as substantive engagement—including exchanges of written proposals and expert-level discussions—the talks ended without a breakthrough.
Vance confirmed the impasse, stating that while discussions were constructive, Washington was unable to secure the commitments it sought from Tehran.
Trump: Progress Made, But Core Issue Unresolved
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the negotiations had yielded progress on “most points,” but emphasized that the central issue—Iran’s nuclear program—remained unresolved.
“The only point that really mattered” had not been settled, he said, reiterating that the United States would not accept any outcome that allowed Iran to retain pathways to nuclear weapons capability.
Trump added that he had been fully briefed by Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner following the talks.
Mixed Signals from Tehran
Iranian officials acknowledged limited progress but confirmed that key disagreements persisted.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the two sides had reached an “understanding” on several issues, but remained “far apart” on two to three critical points, preventing a final agreement.
Meanwhile, Ghalibaf signaled that the next step would depend on Washington, stating that the United States must demonstrate it can “earn” Iran’s trust.
Military Threats Underscore Pressure
Even as he left the door open for renewed diplomacy, Trump reiterated the possibility of military escalation if negotiations ultimately fail.
“I could take out Iran in one day,” he said, warning that U.S. forces could target the country’s energy infrastructure, including power generation facilities.
The remarks highlight the high-stakes nature of the standoff, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and has since destabilized the broader Middle East.
Pakistan’s Role and Diplomatic Effort
Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing them as “extraordinary” hosts who facilitated the talks.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote:
“I have been fully debriefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, on the meeting that took place in Islamabad through the kind and very competent leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan. They are very extraordinary men, and continuously thank me for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India. I always appreciate hearing that — The amount of Humanity spoken of is incomprehensible.”
The negotiations marked the first direct, in-person engagement between the United States and Iran in decades, underscoring Islamabad’s re-emergence as a key diplomatic intermediary.
Uncertain Path Forward
Despite the deadlock, Trump’s remarks suggest that diplomatic channels remain open, even as both sides hold firm to their core positions.
While Washington continues to demand a complete renunciation of nuclear weapons ambitions, Tehran has signaled that any progress will depend on recognition of its rights and a shift in U.S. posture.
For now, the outcome of the Islamabad talks leaves the region at a crossroads—caught between the possibility of renewed diplomacy and the risk of further escalation.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
