U.S. Blockades Iranian Ports

Following the collapse of weekend talks in Pakistan, the U.S. Navy has established a blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran.

While U.S. Central Command insists no merchant vessels have successfully bypassed the operation in its first 24 hours, maritime tracking data suggests at least one sanctioned Chinese tanker transited the waterway.

The move has sparked a diplomatic crisis with Beijing, which labeled the blockade dangerous and irresponsible, while global markets brace for a severe energy supply shock.

Negotiators from both sides may return to Islamabad this week to resume talks as the two-week ceasefire remains extremely fragile.