Iran halts U.S. peace talks and threatens to block key straits

Iran announced a pause in indirect peace talks with the United States and declared plans to block the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Gaza. The move follows a breakdown in the ceasefire that had held since April.

By Sophie Campbell1 min read

Iran announced a pause on peace talks with the United States and declared plans to completely block the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came alongside the Axis of Resistance and cited Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Gaza as the reason.

Iranian state media reported that the ceasefire with the U.S. would not continue if Israel maintained its military operations in southern Lebanon. The Revolutionary Guards Quds Force threatened to expand the blockade to the Bab El Mandeb strait.

Oil prices rose 4% on Monday amid the escalation of regional tensions. Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively choked off due to Iranian threats and a retaliatory U.S. blockade.