The U.S. military’s seizure of a fully loaded tanker linked to Iran on Tuesday injected new tension into the final hours of a fragile two‑week cease-fire, even as Washington insisted that last‑minute peace talks in Pakistan were still possible. The boarding, carried out in international waters, underscored the widening clash over the U.S. blockade and raised fresh doubts about whether negotiators will reach Islamabad in time.
What to know
- The U.S. boarded the tanker Tifani “without incident” near Sri Lanka; it was bound for Singapore and carrying close to 2 million barrels of crude.
- U.S. Central Command said it will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt sanctioned Iranian networks.
- Trump accused Iran of multiple cease-fire violations in a brief social media statement.
- Iran has not commented on the tanker seizure but says the blockade violates the truce and makes talks impossible.
- Tehran still has not decided whether to attend new talks in Islamabad; officials say participation depends on conditions being met.
- Pakistani officials say delegations would not arrive until Wednesday, leaving only hours before the truce expires.
- JD Vance is expected in Islamabad as momentum builds for a Wednesday session.
- Iran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium; the U.S. wants limits on Iran’s nuclear program.
- Oil prices eased slightly after a sharp jump Monday as markets bet talks may resume.
- Iran’s military warned it is prepared for an “immediate and decisive response” to any renewed hostilities.
- Iran says one of its tankers reached territorial waters with Navy assistance despite U.S. warnings.
- The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to most global shipping, cutting off roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day.
- Pakistan has deployed nearly 20,000 security personnel across Islamabad ahead of possible talks.
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