Trump Warns Iran as Nuclear Talks Stall and Blockade Holds

Global oil markets face renewed pressure as the United States maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports and President Trump renewed demands for concessions on Tehran’s nuclear program. The warning came after talks collapsed following roughly 21 hours of meetings in Pakistan, leaving a fragile April ceasefire in place but with no agreement on enriched uranium or sanctions relief.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the clock is ticking for Iran and that the country must move fast or face severe consequences. Iranian officials responded through state media that their forces stand ready to counter any renewed strikes, while a senior Revolutionary Guard figure warned that attempts to enforce the blockade on non-Iranian ports would meet resistance. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of world oil shipments, remains effectively closed to most Iranian traffic.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham urged creation of a restricted zone around known nuclear sites to prevent retrieval of material buried after earlier airstrikes. Iranian state outlets described a recent counter-proposal that included compensation, asset releases, and recognition of sovereignty over the strait; the United States rejected it after reviewing only the opening sentence, according to remarks Trump made aboard Air Force One. Oil prices rose toward $111 per barrel for Brent crude as traders assessed the risk of wider disruption.

Domestic protests inside Iran have continued amid economic strain, with the rial trading near 1.4 million to the dollar, though casualty figures from security-force responses remain disputed across monitoring groups. Russia and China have offered limited diplomatic channels, while European voices expressed concern over any resumption of strikes on energy infrastructure. No independent verification has confirmed direct causation between U.S. pressure and the scale of recent unrest.