A fresh diplomatic opening appeared to emerge in the Iran crisis on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump indicating that talks with Tehran could resume within days, possibly in Islamabad, even as Washington tightened military and economic pressure on the country.
The signals came against the backdrop of a US naval blockade around Iranian ports, European planning for a postwar security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, and new diplomatic activity involving Lebanon and Israel. Together, they point to a conflict that is still live on the ground, but increasingly shaped by efforts to prevent a wider regional and economic fallout.
Live updates
Iran says it will not ‘surrender’ under pressure, questions US-Israel strikes
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has pushed back strongly against what he described as external pressure and military aggression, saying Tehran will not yield to force.
“We emphasise constructive dialogue, but will not be forced to surrender… any attempt to impose will or force Iran to surrender is doomed to failure,” he said, according to Iranian state media ISNA.
He also questioned the legality of recent US and Israeli actions, asking what justification existed for attacks that hit civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is not seeking war, but would resist any move that undermines its sovereignty.
Russia, China push back against West, signal active role
Russia and China have indicated they will remain actively engaged in the Middle East crisis, pushing back against Western influence.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said attempts to “cut through” the crisis quickly would not work, calling the situation a complex “knot” that will be difficult to resolve.
He also accused Western powers of trying to maintain global dominance, while stressing that Russia-China cooperation will act as a stabilising force.
India monitoring 15 vessels stranded near Hormuz
Indian authorities said 15 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Strait of Hormuz region, with efforts underway to ensure their safe return.
Officials added that over 2,100 Indian seafarers have already been repatriated, with no fresh incidents reported in the past 24 hours.
India’s LPG vessel reaches Kandla after Hormuz transit
Amid the tensions, an Indian-flagged LPG vessel, Jag Vikram, has safely reached Kandla Port after crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship carried over 20,000 metric tonnes of LPG and its arrival is expected to support domestic supply chains.
The transit is significant as it marks one of the few successful movements through the corridor following recent disruptions.
White House calls blockade a ‘decisive shift’ in global power
Senior US official Stephen Miller described the blockade as a turning point in global power dynamics, claiming it demonstrates American maritime dominance.
He said the move has placed Iran in a “no-win situation,” warning that prolonged isolation could see global supply chains shift away from Tehran entirely.
Hormuz traffic collapses to under 10% of normal levels
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged sharply, with daily vessel traffic falling to below 10 per cent of pre-conflict levels.
Before the war began, more than 100 ships passed through the route daily. The steep drop highlights the scale of disruption to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Ships bypass blockade tactics, reach Iranian ports
At least two vessels managed to transit the Strait of Hormuz and continue towards Iranian ports despite the US blockade, according to a report by Lloyd’s List.
The ships reportedly altered their Automatic Identification System (AIS) destination signals while passing through the strait, briefly masking their intended Iranian port calls.
After clearing the chokepoint, they resumed course toward Bandar Abbas, suggesting gaps in enforcement and adding complexity to US tracking efforts.
Russia, China blame West, push for stabilising role
Russia and China have stepped up coordination as the crisis deepens, with Moscow blaming Western powers for aggravating global tensions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the situation in regions including the Strait of Hormuz is being worsened by Western actions.
He added that Russia-China ties are acting as a “stabiliser” in global affairs, while Beijing has proposed a four-point peace plan to ease tensions.
Trump renews attack on NATO amid Iran tensions
Trump has again criticised NATO, saying the alliance failed to support the United States during the Iran conflict.
“NATO wasn't there for us, and they won't be there for us in the future,” he said on Truth Social.
He also reiterated that the US has spent trillions supporting the alliance, while accusing members of not contributing enough.
US Vice President flags deep mistrust after rare Iran talks
US Vice President JD Vance said the first round of talks with Iran stalled due to decades of mistrust between the two sides.
He described the Islamabad meeting as unprecedented, noting it was the first such high-level engagement in nearly 49 years.
“There’s a lot of mistrust… you’re not going to solve that problem overnight,” Vance said, while adding that both sides appeared willing to make a deal.
Trump rules out extending ceasefire, signals decisive phase
Trump has indicated that he is not considering extending the current two-week ceasefire, saying he does not expect it to be necessary.
“I think you're going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” he said, suggesting imminent developments.
He added that the conflict could end either through a deal or by neutralising Iran’s capabilities, though he prefers a negotiated outcome.
Trump says conflict ‘close to over’, claims strong US position
US President Donald Trump has said the conflict with Iran is nearing its end, despite no final agreement in place.
“I think it’s close to over,” he said in an interview with Fox News, adding that the United States holds a strong strategic position.
He also claimed Iran wants to make a deal “very badly” as pressure continues to mount.
IMF warns of global slowdown, inflation spike due to war
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Middle East conflict is already hitting global growth and pushing inflation higher.
Presenting its latest outlook, IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said the war has “halted” earlier economic momentum and raised the risk of a major energy shock.
Global growth is now projected at 3.1 per cent for 2026, while inflation could rise to 4.4 per cent. In a severe scenario, growth may fall to 2 per cent and inflation cross 6 per cent.
The IMF said the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is acting as a “textbook negative supply shock,” driving up costs and weakening purchasing power worldwide.
Israel stops short of backing ceasefire in Lebanon
Even as the Washington talks opened a diplomatic track, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter declined to commit to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
He said Israel remained focused on the security of its citizens and made clear that military action against Hezbollah would continue.
Leiter said the talks had produced proposals and recommendations that would now be taken back to the two governments, with the possibility of another meeting in Washington in the coming weeks.
That leaves the Lebanon track open, but fragile, especially with Israel still ruling out any immediate halt to its campaign.
US hosts rare direct Israel-Lebanon engagement
Washington also hosted a rare high-level meeting between Israel and Lebanon, the first such engagement since 1993.
The talks, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, brought together the ambassadors of both countries and ended with agreement to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue.
Rubio called the meeting “a historic opportunity” and said the goal went beyond an immediate ceasefire, arguing that it could help build a framework for a more lasting peace.
The US said it supported Lebanon’s plans to restore state control and also reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah attacks.
Lebanon, for its part, stressed the need to fully implement the November 2024 cessation of hostilities, protect sovereignty and address the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
US tightens economic pressure, says oil sanctions relief will expire
In another escalation, the US Treasury Department said it will not extend the temporary sanctions relief granted for certain Iranian oil already stranded at sea.
The short-term authorisation, introduced in March to ease immediate supply stress, is due to expire in a few days and “will not be renewed,” the department said.
Treasury added that it was moving aggressively with what it called an “Economic Fury” strategy and warned that foreign financial institutions supporting Iran could face secondary sanctions.
US tightens economic pressure, says oil sanctions relief will expire
In another escalation, the US Treasury Department said it will not extend the temporary sanctions relief granted for certain Iranian oil already stranded at sea.
The short-term authorisation, introduced in March to ease immediate supply stress, is due to expire in a few days and “will not be renewed,” the department said.
Treasury added that it was moving aggressively with what it called an “Economic Fury” strategy and warned that foreign financial institutions supporting Iran could face secondary sanctions.
Paris conference planned on Hormuz security
France and the UK are also preparing a joint conference later this week to bring together more than 40 countries around the issue of freedom of navigation in Hormuz.
Macron said the meeting would focus on a multilateral and defensive mission aimed at restoring movement through the critical energy corridor.
India and China have reportedly been invited to discussions, though it is not yet clear whether they will take part.
Europe draws up Hormuz security plan without direct US role
As uncertainty continues in the Gulf, European countries are preparing a postwar plan to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without direct US involvement.
According to a report cited by IANS, the proposed mission is being led by the UK and France and would include mine-clearing operations, naval deployments, surveillance and escort arrangements after hostilities end.
The effort would exclude the United States, Israel and Iran, and is intended to reassure insurers, shippers and commercial operators that the route is safe again.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the mission would be defensive, not offensive. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the coalition would coordinate with countries bordering the strait, including Iran and Oman.
UN says talks should continue, warns on global fallout
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said talks between Washington and Tehran should continue, even though no deal was reached in the Islamabad discussions.
A statement from his office described the talks as a constructive and meaningful step, while stressing that an agreement could not be expected overnight.
The UN also renewed its call for all parties to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law.
It warned that the disruption has already fed global economic instability, with higher costs, supply chain problems and added pressure on food security due to the impact on fertiliser and fuel movement.
The organisation also said around 20,000 seafarers had been caught up in the crisis and stranded aboard ships in worsening conditions.
Shipping through Hormuz not fully halted
Even with the US operation in place, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has not stopped completely.
Commercial vessels not linked to Iran have continued to move through the waterway, suggesting the route remains under pressure but is not fully shut.
That matters because the strait carries roughly a fifth of global oil shipments and remains one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints.
US blockade begins after talks stall
After the earlier round of talks ended without a breakthrough, the United States moved ahead with a naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping.
US Central Command said more than 10,000 Sailors, Marines and Airmen, backed by more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, were involved in the operation.
CENTCOM said that in the first 24 hours, no ship had broken through the blockade and six merchant vessels turned back towards Iranian ports after receiving US instructions.
It added that the blockade was being enforced against vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, while US forces continued supporting freedom of navigation for ships travelling to and from non-Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump rejects long moratorium idea on Iran nuclear programme
Trump also appeared to dismiss the idea of a long temporary pause in Iran’s nuclear activity, saying he did not support a 20-year moratorium.
“I’ve been saying they can’t have nuclear weapons, so I don’t like the 20 years,” he said, adding that he did not want Iran to feel it had secured a win.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said there had been progress in earlier talks, but blamed shifting US demands for the failure to reach an agreement.
Trump says talks with Iran could resume within days
US President Donald Trump said a fresh round of talks with Iran could take place in the next two days, and suggested Islamabad may host them.
Speaking to The New York Post, Trump said, “Something could be happening over the next two days,” adding that the process now appeared more likely to move towards Pakistan than Europe.
He also indicated that discussions were continuing, though slowly. Trump did not say who would represent Washington if the talks go ahead.