US-Iran Talks Stall in Pakistan as Key Disputes Remain Unresolved
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Apr 13
US-Iran Talks Stall in Pakistan as Key Disputes Remain Unresolved
60 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Apr 13
Marathon talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, leaving key issues unresolved after 21 hours of negotiations.
Major sticking points included Iran's nuclear program, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and US demands for a long-term enrichment halt.
The failure to reach a deal casts doubt on the current ceasefire and risks prolonging disruptions to global energy supplies.
After spending $12 billion in weeks, can the US economy sustain a prolonged conflict with Iran?
With a naval blockade in place, what is the US military's endgame in the Strait of Hormuz?
How will global energy markets survive the indefinite closure of the Strait of Hormuz?
Is the US blockade unintentionally strengthening the very Iranian hardliners it aims to weaken?
With Iran's Supreme Leader dead, could the current conflict trigger a full-scale humanitarian crisis?
As the April 21 ceasefire deadline looms, can diplomacy avert an all-out regional war?
Strait of Hormuz Blockade: How U.S. Naval Action Disrupted 20% of World’s Oil and Triggered Global Shockwaves
Overview
In April 2026, the collapse of ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran triggered a U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, enforced by 16 warships. Prior Iranian actions—such as laying sea mines, demanding tolls on ships, and conducting military drills in the Strait of Hormuz—had already sharply reduced shipping traffic. The blockade intensified this disruption, nearly halting maritime flows through this vital chokepoint that handles about 20% of global oil. Iran condemned the blockade and threatened retaliation, using asymmetric tactics like missile strikes and cyber attacks. These actions, combined with attacks on alternative routes, caused global energy market turmoil, soaring oil prices, and strained supply chains, while legal and diplomatic disputes deepened international divisions.