WASHINGTON(AP)—The U.S. military says it has directed 27 ships back to Iranian ports during the blockade.
The U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian-linked ships has focused on vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports. It’s an attempt to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.
The U.S. attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel over the weekend that it said had tried to evade its blockade. Iran’s joint military command has vowed to respond.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is preparing for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran two days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire
Trump says he’s ‘highly unlikely’ to prolong ceasefire with Iran that’s set to expire this week
Trump told Bloomberg News that he’s “highly unlikely” to renew the two-week ceasefire announced on April 7.
The president also said that the Strait of Hormuz would continue to be blockaded until the U.S. and Iran reach an agreement on the war.
Vance is at the White House, not Pakistan
Reports based on Trump saying to The New York Post that Vice President JD Vance was en route to Pakistan were off by several thousand miles.