THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

What the US-Iran talks collapse says about their approach to ... The collapse ofUS-Iran talks at Islamabad on April 11-12was not totally unexpected, given the maximalist position taken by the opposing sides. However, the very fact that the two sides agreed to sit on the negotiation table after 47 years in itself was seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough. In diplomacy, dialogue is seen as a process, wherein the opening rounds generally seek to create a frame work, lower tension and stabilise the trajectory of the negotiations, rather than the quantified outcomes. Given the high-level composition of delegations — the US led by Vice Present JD Vance and Iran by the Assembly speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — it was apparent that both sides were serious about negotiations. The talks got deadlocked due to a wide divergence in the stance adopted by the two sides. Iran was pushing for a comprehensive package, i.e. ceasefire in Lebanon, sanctions relief, unfreezing of the assets (around $ 120 billion), sovereignty over Strait of Hormuz and recognition of Tehran’s regional role, beside the security guarantees. The US on the other hand sought…

Kremlin Welcomes Iran Ceasefire Deal - The Moscow Times April 8, 2026 Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency The Kremlin on Wednesday said it welcomed a last-minute ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran, as the war risked further escalation amid threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “From the outset, we’ve stressed the necessity of de-escalating tensions as quickly as possible and a shift toward political and diplomatic talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a daily briefing. “We welcome the news of a ceasefire and support the decision not to pursue further military escalation,” the spokesman added. “Each side should be able to defend its interests at the negotiating table, rather than through military action.” The United States, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, an 11th-hour deal that could pull the region back from the brink of wider war and ease pressure from what has become the worst oil supply shock in history. Questions remain about when the ceasefire will start, as countries across the Middle East continued to report airstr…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Hit an Impasse. What Comes Next? Council on Foreign Relations Articles Share By experts and staff Published April 13, 2026 2:51 p.m. James M. Lindsay CFR Expert Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy Share The peace talks between the United States and Iran ended early Sunday morning in Islamabad, Pakistan, without a deal to end the now seven-week old Iran war . Each side blamed the other for the failure to secure a breakthrough. Both capitals, but especially Washington, now face difficult decisions. The Islamabad Talks That the talks happened at all was an accomplishment. President Donald Trump had insisted that Iran re-open the Strait of Hormuz as the price for U.S. participation. The speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, demanded that Israel halt its attacks on Lebanon and that Washington release Iran’s frozen assets. Neither side got its wish. The Strait of Hormuz remained closed, Israel continued to strike Lebanon, and U.S. officials denied that any Iranian assets had been released . The negotiations proceeded anyways. The meeting was the first face-to-face negotiation between the two countries in more t…

Truce tested <p>THE latest <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2011094/us-and-iran-trade-strikes-putting-fresh-strain-on-mideast-ceasefire">exchange of fire</a> between the US and Iran reminds us once more that ceasefires are sustained not by signatures alone but also political restraint.</p> <p>The reported US strikes, following a dispute over Iran’s actions against a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, illustrate how quickly a single incident can place the broader peace process in jeopardy. While Washington described its response as limited and consistent with preserving the ceasefire, Tehran insisted that its own actions in the Strait of Hormuz were compatible with the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2008730/pm-says-us-iran-have-signed-deal-electronically-iran-to-instantly-reopen-hormuz-us-to-immediately-lift-blockade">MoU</a>. Yet the episode exposed just how fragile the recent agreement had become.</p> <p>Rather than allowing military exchanges to dictate the trajectory of relations, both sides should now activate the deconfliction mechanism envisaged in their MoU. Its purpose is to clarify incidents, reduce the risk of miscalculation and prevent localised confrontat…

US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the…

Full text of Iran's National Security Council statement on ceasefire ... A ceasefire has opened a narrow window for diplomacy after weeks of escalating conflict, triggered by the US and Israeli war on Iran and followed by retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region. The fighting disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, and heightened fears of a wider regional war. The two-week pause, announced by US President Donald Trump, followed mediation efforts led by Pakistan and is tied to the reopening of the strait and the start of negotiations in Islamabad. Both sides have claimed military gains, with Washington saying it achieved its core objectives and Tehran asserting it forced the United States to accept the framework of its demands. Talks expected to begin in the coming days will focus on key issues including maritime transit, sanctions relief and the presence of US forces in the region. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian officials have said the negotiations do not signal the end of the war, while US off…

Vance and Iranian officials are in Switzerland for talks on Iran's nuclear program Vance and Iranian officials are in Switzerland for talks on Iran's nuclear program Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is valid, I think. Bu…

Trump Extended the Iran War Ceasefire. Now What? Share By experts and staff Published April 24, 2026 2:11 p.m. Michael Froman CFR Expert President, Council on Foreign Relations Share On Tuesday, President Donald Trump indefinitely extended the United States’ ceasefire with Iran, citing internal divisions in the country. So what’s the latest? For now, peace talks have stalled as there is little overlap between the United States and Iran’s demands. Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains at a screeching halt. Iran has seized two ships near the strait, while the United States continues to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports, directing more than thirty vessels to turn around. Iran’s military capabilities are significantly degraded, yet the New York Times estimates that 40 percent of its pre-war drone arsenal and some 60 percent of its missile launcher capabilities are still intact. Needless to say, that’s enough to continue to wreak havoc on the global economy should Iran choose to do so. I sat down with my CFR colleagues Steven Cook , Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies, and Ray Takeyh , Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle East studies for a wide…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Will the Iran ceasefire hold? - Brookings Institution Listen on Subscribe toThe Brookings Current Commentary Listen on The Brookings Current April 23, 2026 With an indefinite ceasefire in place and continued attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the war in Iran has reached a turning point. Given the chasm between the strategic interests of the United States and Iran, where does the conflict go from here? In this episode ofThe Current, Brookings Fellow Aslı Aydıntaşbaş is joined by Vice President of Foreign Policy Suzanne Maloney and Visiting Fellow Mara Karlin to discuss the impact of the war, the status of negotiations between the US and Iran, and potential off-ramps for President Trump to seek an end to the conflict. Related Content Michael E. O’Hanlon April 20, 2026 Samantha Gross April 1, 2026 Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, Mara Karlin, Suzanne Maloney March 11, 2026 AYDINTAŞBAŞ:A scenario that’s been talked about, President Trump walking away, just walking away. MALONEY:What the president needs fundamentally is some kind of image of victory that he can project publicly to the world and to his base. I do think it’s going to be hard for him …

Iran, Türkiye defense ministers discuss regional ceasefire, call for ... USD 1.7 Baku25 °C © APA | Iran’s Acting Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Seyed Majid Ebnolreza Iran’s Acting Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Seyed Majid Ebnolreza, and Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held a telephone conversation to review the latest regional developments, the implementation of the current ceasefire, and strategies to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two nations. During the call, General Ebnolreza addressed the recent ceasefire agreement, noting that the Islamic Republic signed it to help restore regional stability at the request of friendly neighboring countries. However, he expressed deep skepticism toward Western commitments. “Given the long history of U.S. breach of promises, we have zero trust in the opposing side,” Ebnolreza said. “The Armed Forces of Iran remain on full alert, and any violation of the agreement will be met with a proportionate response.” General Ebnolreza reiterated Iran’s proposal to establish a “Security Alliance of the Islamic World,” suggesting the inclusion of key regional powers such as Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi …

A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire sparks market relief - CNBC A temporary U.S.-Iranceasefiresparked a broad relief rally across assets on Wednesday, but experts warned that any deal concerning lasting peace will be complicated by a major trust deficit. The ceasefire came following hastened diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and just hours before Trump's threatened deadline for wiping out the entire Iranian civilization, briefly pulling the region back from the brink of a massive military bombardment. Oil pricescooled to below $100 per barrelfollowing the ceasefire announcement, but remain far above the pre-war levels of around $70 per barrel. While U.S. President Donald Trump said the two-week ceasefire was contingent on the "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials stated that safe passage through the strait would be"possible,"subject to coordination with its armed forces and "technical limitations" — caveats that may give Iran some room to define compliance on its own terms. "This is a problem that could derail the ceasefire later this year," said Matt Gertken, chief geopolitical strategist at BCA Research, warning that the coordination r…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Iran Nuclear Talks Stalled as Strait of Hormuz Dispute and Oil Prices ... Peace negotiations between the United States, Israel, and Iran have ground to a halt two months into the ongoing conflict, with disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran’s nuclear program emerging as the central obstacles to any ceasefire or lasting agreement. The United States has signaled reluctance to accept Iran’s proposal to end hostilities and reopen the strategically vital waterway without a concurrent resolution on nuclear weapons development, leaving global oil markets increasingly volatile and diplomatic channels effectively frozen. The Strait of Hormuz has long been considered one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, a narrow 21-mile-wide passage between Iran and Oman through which roughly 17 to 21 million barrels of oil pass daily — approximately one-fifth of global petroleum consumption. Iran has historically leveraged its geographic position along the strait as a strategic bargaining chip during periods of international tension, threatening closure during the tanker wars of the 1980s and repeatedly invoking that threat during nuclear negotiations in the 2…

Why the US-Iran peace talks failed after just one day - and what ... High-stakes peace talks between the US and Iran have crumbled after just one day , as JD Vance blamed Tehran for being unwilling to accept American terms. US and Iranian officials travelled to Pakistan on Saturday for what were hailed as “make or break” peace talks aimed at bringing an end to the bloody six-week war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz . But less than 24 hours later, the teams departed Islamabad empty-handed. In remarks following the 21-hour marathon talks, the US vice president suggested the sticking point had come after Tehran failed to convince negotiators it would not seek to develop a nuclear weapon. open image in gallery Vice president JD Vance said the US had left a deal on the table ( Reuters ) “The simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term,” Mr Vance told reporters following the negotiations. “We haven’t seen that yet.” He added the failure of the talks was “bad news for Iran, much more than it's bad news for the United States of America”. Iran said the ta…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed - WBAL-TV US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland but Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to m…

Iran and US agree to halt attacks and renew talks, US official says <p>Iran and the United States agreed to halt recent hostilities in the Gulf and renew talks regarding their<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2011275"> dispute </a>over the Strait of Hormuz, a US official said on Sunday, raising hopes of saving an interim peace deal that was under pressure from days of <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2011386/trump-threatens-to-annihilate-iran-after-tit-for-tat-attacks-recriminations-over-peace-deal-violations">tit-for-tat strikes.</a></p> <p>The exchanges have underscored the fragility of a Pakistan-brokered agreement to end the conflict that has killed thousands and snarled the flow of oil shipments through the vital Strait of Hormuz.</p> <p>“Technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely,” the official said, referring to the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2008644">14-point</a> agreement that was agreed on June 17 under which the strait would be re-opened for traffic.</p> <p>Iran has not immediately commented on the US statement.</p> <p><em>Axios</em>, which first …

US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland - My NBC5 US and Iran to talk Sunday in Switzerland as Tehran says it closed Strait of Hormuz again US and Iran to talk Sunday in Switzerland as Tehran says it closed Strait of Hormuz again Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptio…

How fractured right-wing media are spinning Trump's Iran capitulation Update (4/13/26) : This piece has been updated with additional examples. Right-wing media and right-leaning online shows are split on the temporary two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, with some calling it “victory” and crediting Trump’s “hyperbolic rhetoric,” while others remain skeptical, going as far as to call it “total U.S. defeat” and arguing the deal is “very difficult to accept." Both critics and supporters of the war have criticized the terms of the ceasefire, saying it is a “defeat” and that “Iran practically got everything that they wanted.” Jump to section Trump’s ceasefire with Iran temporarily stopped attacks on Iran but left US objectives unfulfilled and weakened the American position in the region Some in right-wing media praised Trump’s “art of the deal” and used the temporary ceasefire to claim “Trump just got Iran to cry uncle”, saying Iran is now “demoralized and … ready to agree to terms” Right-wing and right-leaning voices both critical and supportive of the war sharply criticized the ceasefire, saying it is a “defeat” and that “Iran practically got everything that they wa…

Trump says Iran war 'very close to over,' mediators reportedly move ... CAIRO (AP) — Mediators moved closer Wednesday to extending theceasefirebetween the United States and Iran and restarting negotiations to salvage the fragile truce before it expires next week. TheU.S. blockade on Iranian portsand renewed Iranian threats have imperiled the week-old agreement, but regional officials said Wednesday they were making progress, telling The Associated Press that the United States and Iran had given an “in principle agreement” to extend it to allow for more diplomacy. Before the two-week ceasefire expires on April 22, mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points that derailed direct talks last weekend — Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages — according to one of the regional officials who is involved in mediation efforts. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, said on Tuesday that revived talks in the upcoming days were likely. Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday that…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Gulf flare-up <p>IS the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1989584/trump-stops-bombing-iran-after-conversations-with-pm-shehbaz-sharif-field-marshal-asim-munir-iran-us-agree-to-two-week-ceasefire">fragile US-Iran ceasefire</a> — and the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2008730">memorandum of understanding</a> that underpins it — collapsing? Unless deconfliction measures kick in, and both sides show restraint, a return to wider hostilities seems very likely. The latest round of violence was sparked by <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2013627">suspected Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz</a>; the ships were apparently targeted because they were not following routes designated by Tehran.</p> <p>The US retaliated by <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2013772/us-unleashes-new-wave-of-strikes-on-iran-after-reinstating-oil-sanctions-over-attacks-in-strait-of-hormuz">attacking Iranian facilities</a> early on Wednesday, prompting Tehran to hit sites in Kuwait and Bahrain that it claimed were US facilities. But what has raised eyebrows is US President Donald Trump’s comment that the MoU with Iran is over, and that talks with the Islamic Republic were a “waste of time”. I…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…

Iranian FM warns US talks won't start if threats persist amid ceasefire https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/05/iran-us-war-invasion-abbas-araghchi.html Iranian FM warns US talks won’t start if threats persist amid ceasefire Next round of US-Iran peace talks Share Add us on Google by Estefano Gomez Jul. 7, 2026 The Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, stated that negotiations with the United States would not start if threats persist, referring specifically to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump. This statement comes amid a 60-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, following a conflict that began earlier in the year. The ceasefire, established under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was intended to halt hostilities and reopen strategic locations such as the Strait of Hormuz. However, the recent declarations by both nations’ leaders have cast doubt on the continuation of diplomatic talks, potentially impacting the fragile peace. Advertisement Key Takeaways Araghchi’s statement appears to challenge the likelihood of U.S.-Iran negotiations resuming, as it directly opposes the conditions for diplomatic engagement outlined in the MoU. Market pricing suggests a decrease …

Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's military command says Strait of Hormuz is closed, negotiators headed to Switzerland Iran's insisting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must stop before talks can resume. Now just yesterday, officials confirmed the two sides agreed to renew *** ceasefire agreement, but overnight strikes are putting all of this into question. Now the president still appears confident the deal will still hold. It's 60 days they have to make *** deal, otherwise we We will do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. So far there's been progress under this preliminary deal. The vice president announced the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The deal also promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite some advancements. Democrats and *** number of Republicans are voicing concerns, particularly about this $300 billion development fund to rebuild Iran. History demonstrates that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea. Some of the criticism of the MOU is va…