Iran, US, Israel War News Live Updates: Iran threatens to halt trade in Gulf if US doesn’t lift blockade
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on the village of Qlaileh, as seen from the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Wednesday. (AP)
Iran, US, Israel War Today News Live Updates: The leader of Iran’s joint military command threatened Wednesday to halt trade in the Gulf region if the U.S. does not lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Even so, US President Donald Trump said the war in Iran was “very close to over” in an interview that aired Wednesday. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. is preparing to ramp up economic pain on Iran by levying secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with the Middle Eastern nation.
Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday carrying a direct message from the Trump administration aimed at salvaging the fragile ceasefire. The high-level Pakistani delegation, which includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and senior technical experts, is reportedly tasked with breaking the deadlock that followed last weekend’s Islamabad Talks.
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While Trump strikes an optimistic tone about a “grand bargain” to reintegrate Iran into the global economy, the reality on the ground remains volatile. The US Central Command confirmed today that its blockade has successfully halted nearly all economic traffic in and out of Iranian ports, with several tankers intercepted or turned back by US destroyers.
Iran-US war ceasefire: Here are 5 developments
- ‘Grand Bargain’: Vice President JD Vance confirmed that US negotiators are preparing to return to Pakistan, aiming for a sweeping deal rather than a “small” truce.
- Nuclear deadlock: A key sticking point remains the duration of a nuclear moratorium; Washington is demanding a 20-year suspension, while Tehran has offered a 3-to-5-year window.
- Economic chokehold: CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper stated that 90% of Iran’s economy is fueled by sea trade, which has now been “completely halted” in less than 36 hours.
- Rising toll: Officials in Tehran report that approximately 5,000 people have been killed in the fighting since the conflict erupted earlier this year.
- Market watch: Global stocks rose on the news of a potential breakthrough, despite oil prices hovering near $96 per barrel due to the ongoing shipping disruptions.
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