Hopes rise for more negotiations as US military says Iran blockade in effect

Hopes rose for renewed talks between the United States and Iran as the U.S. military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by strike targets across the war-weary region.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a second round of talks could happen “over the next two days" as diplomats worked through back channels to arrange them.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres concurred, saying it’s “highly probable” that talks will restart, citing a meeting he had with Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar.

The war, now in its seventh week, has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have torn through military and civilian infrastructure across the region.