US Iran war highlights: JD Vance says further Iran talks hinge on Tehran, ‘ball is in their court’

US Iran war highlights: The deadline set by US President Donald Trump for a naval blockade of Iranian ports passed on Monday, with Washington moving ahead after weekend talks with Tehran ended without a deal. Trump had announced the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the failed negotiations. The US military said it would begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports from 1400 GMT on Monday, while allowing vessels not linked to Iran to continue transiting the strait.

Trump lashed out at The New York Times over its coverage of Iran, accusing the outlet of misrepresenting the situation and targeting him and his supporters.

The United States has announced a sweeping maritime move against Iran after ceasefire talks collapsed in Islamabad. President Donald Trump said the US Navy would swiftly begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after high-stakes talks with Iran in Islamabad ended without an agreement.

Hezbollah said it carried out drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces on Monday, targeting a gathering of soldiers at the Hanita site with a drone.

The group also said it launched a rocket barrage at another group of Israeli troops in al-Malikiyah in southern Lebanon later in the evening.

Earlier in the day, the United States and Iran wrapped up 21 hours of face-to-face negotiations without reaching a deal, leaving the future of the fragile, two-week ceasefire uncertain. The US Central Command said it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10 am EDT (5:30 pm in Iran).

CENTCOM said the blockade will be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations.” However, it added that ships traveling between non-Iranian ports will still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

A US official said the move is aimed at demonstrating the limits of Iran’s leverage as negotiations stall. The war, now in its seventh week, has already killed thousands and disrupted global markets.

Shipping halts in Hormuz Strait

Shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz appeared to be immediately affected. Lloyd’s List Intelligence wrote Sunday that “all traffic” through the Strait stopped after Trump’s announcement on Truth Social. Two vessels that had been leaving the strait reportedly turned back, reported news agency AP.

This comes after limited traffic had only just begun to resume following the earlier pause in hostilities.

Tehran Navy claims control over Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy said it maintains “full control” over the Hormuz Strait and warned that any military vessels approaching the waterway “will be met with a firm and forceful response.”

Tehran added that the strait remains open for non-military vessels.

Iran accuses US of derailing talks

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had negotiated in “good faith” and was close to an agreement. “When just inches away from ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade,” he wrote.

“Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity," he added.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in Pakistan talks, dismissed Trump’s threats, saying they would have no impact on the Iranian people.

Qalibaf described the talks as “intensive, serious and challenging,” adding that Iran had put forward “strong initiatives to demonstrate Iran’s goodwill, which led to progress,” though he did not elaborate.

US lays down hard red lines

According to an unnamed US official, Vice President JD Vance used the talks to outline Washington’s non-negotiables and possible areas of compromise, AP report added.

The core objective remains ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. Additional red lines include ending uranium enrichment, dismantling key facilities, allowing retrieval of highly enriched uranium, halting funding to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

Iran, however, could not agree to all of these conditions.

UK role unclear amid minesweeper claims

Trump also said the United Kingdom would send minesweepers to the region, though Britain’s defence ministry did not immediately confirm the claim.

British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper had earlier discussed coordinating international efforts to clear mines from the strait once the conflict de-escalates, including meetings with dozens of nations.

A follow-up meeting on restoring free movement in the shipping lane is expected later this week.