American Military Blocks Strait of Hormuz Trade as U.S.-Iran Talks Stall

The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Monday by the American military, which says it has completely halted trade conducted via Iranian ports, as negotiations between the United States and Iran face uncertainty after the failure of the first talks this weekend.

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Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Donald Trump hinted to the New York Post on Tuesday that negotiations could resume and that it could happen within two days, while J.D. Vance said on Monday that 'the ball is in Tehran's court,' implicitly calling for concessions from Iranian authorities.

L'Express

Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address that Israel is kept 'constantly' informed by Washington of contacts between the United States and Iran and that 'Our objectives are aligned,' adding that determining the outcome of the negotiations or any progress would be premature.

A source familiar with the matter told Tehran that Iran could consider allowing ships to navigate freely on the Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz, without risk of attack, as part of proposals offered during negotiations with the United States if an agreement is reached to avoid a resumption of the conflict.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun stressed the need to reach a security agreement and to halt Israeli attacks on his country before any meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as a third round of Lebanese–Israeli negotiations at the ambassadorial level in Washington is expected to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, or the day after tomorrow, Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador Michael Issa told Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi that 'Aoun's meeting with Netanyahu in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump is not a loss or a concession,' and said Aoun’s visit to America would allow Lebanon’s requests to be placed on the table.

Sahifa Al-Khaleej

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated that 'There will be no negotiations before a ceasefire, and the priority is stopping the war before any political track,' and he added that 'any negotiation without guarantees to stop the aggression is rejected.'

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem renewed his party's rejection of direct negotiations, calling it 'a free concession with no fruits,' and said in a statement that 'There is no ceasefire in Lebanon, only ongoing Israeli aggression'.

L'Express reported that Israel’s prime minister said he had given orders to the army to continue strengthening the 'security zone' in southern Lebanon, where he says the IDF continues to strike the Iran-aligned Hezbollah.

“Lebanese President Joseph Aoun yesterday stressed the need to reach a security agreement and to halt Israeli attacks on his country before any meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a time when a third round of Lebanese–Israeli negotiations at the ambassadorial level in Washington is expected to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, or the day after tomorrow, Thursday”

Sahifa Al-Khaleej

The same report said at least 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2 in this new Israeli military campaign aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah, and it said more than 1.2 million people have been displaced.

In the same live update, L'Express said the Israeli army stands ready, if necessary, to resume its attacks 'rapidly' and 'powerfully,' and it also quoted White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt denying that the White House had asked for an extension of the ceasefire.

While the sources here focus on Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, L'Express also framed the broader regional stakes by saying Donald Trump hinted the war is 'almost over' and by reporting that the United States supports freedom of navigation for ships that do not benefit Iran's economy.