President Donald Trump has suggested that negotiations to end the war in Iran could resume within days, after weekend talks in Islamabad collapsed and the United States imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports. The standoff has cast doubt over a fragile two-week ceasefire set to expire soon, though the United Nations secretary general said it is highly probable that discussions will restart. Officials from Washington, Tehran and regional governments indicated delegations could return to Pakistan later this week.

The blockade, enforced by more than a dozen American warships and thousands of military personnel, aims to cut off Iran’s oil revenue and shipping toll income. The American military said no vessels passed through the restricted areas in the first 24 hours, though ship-tracking data showed some crossings in the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows Iranian restrictions on the vital waterway after earlier air strikes by the United States and Israel.

Disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme derailed the initial negotiations, with Washington proposing a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment and Tehran reportedly countering with a shorter pause. The International Monetary Fund warned the conflict could push the global economy toward recession, while China criticized the blockade as dangerous. Separate talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington were described as productive, though American officials said they were not connected to the Iran negotiations.