After 21 hours of face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed without agreement, President Trump ordered the US Navy to "begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz." The US delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance -- rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Vance departed Pakistan saying Iran had "chosen not to accept our terms."
Talks collapsed over US demands including an end to all uranium enrichment, dismantling of all major enrichment facilities, US retrieval of Iran's highly enriched uranium, cessation of funding for allied militant groups, and full opening of the Strait of Hormuz without charging a toll for passage. Trump also declared the US Navy would "seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran" and threatened to resume the conflict, stating the military would "finish up the little that is left of Iran."
A naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz -- through which roughly 20% of global oil passes -- represents a dramatic escalation with implications for the global economy, energy markets, and international law. The blockade constitutes an act of war under international maritime law and risks drawing in additional nations whose commercial shipping is affected. This follows six weeks of direct US-Israel military strikes against Iran that began February 28, 2026.