With one week remaining in the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, President Donald Trump said it “won’t be pleasant” if a deal is not reached, as the U.S. military continues to block Iranian ports. The Associated Press is reporting that Pakistan proposed a second round of face-to-face negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days, but the White House has not confirmed whether talks are planned. Trump told reporters on Monday that his administration was contacted by the other side and said they want to work a deal.Vice President J.D. Vance said on Fox News Monday that some progress was made during the first round of talks but emphasized that the next step is up to Iran.”The big question from here on out is whether the Iranians will have enough flexibility, whether the Iranians will accept the critical things we need to see in order for things to get done,” Vance said. “It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place mechanisms to ensure that’s not going to happen.”Experts have raised concerns about the potential consequences of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Sal Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University, said, “Nations are going to have to scramble to get oil for their refineries. They’re going to have to scramble to get refined products, which means in the United States, which really doesn’t have this shortage issue, but the demand for U.S. product is going to be greater, and the demand for U.S. product means that prices for us, gas, oil and diesel fuel is going to continue to rise.” “We don’t use the Strait. We don’t need the Strait. We have our own oil and gas, much more than we need,” Trump said.Analysts are questioning how the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will end, with some suggesting it will ultimately depend on which side can endure the most pain.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
WASHINGTON —
With one week remaining in the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, President Donald Trump said it “won’t be pleasant” if a deal is not reached, as the U.S. military continues to block Iranian ports.
The Associated Press is reporting that Pakistan proposed a second round of face-to-face negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days, but the White House has not confirmed whether talks are planned.
Trump told reporters on Monday that his administration was contacted by the other side and said they want to work a deal.
Vice President J.D. Vance said on Fox News Monday that some progress was made during the first round of talks but emphasized that the next step is up to Iran.
“The big question from here on out is whether the Iranians will have enough flexibility, whether the Iranians will accept the critical things we need to see in order for things to get done,” Vance said. “It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place mechanisms to ensure that’s not going to happen.”
Experts have raised concerns about the potential consequences of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
Sal Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University, said, “Nations are going to have to scramble to get oil for their refineries. They’re going to have to scramble to get refined products, which means in the United States, which really doesn’t have this shortage issue, but the demand for U.S. product is going to be greater, and the demand for U.S. product means that prices for us, gas, oil and diesel fuel is going to continue to rise.”
“We don’t use the Strait. We don’t need the Strait. We have our own oil and gas, much more than we need,” Trump said.
Analysts are questioning how the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will end, with some suggesting it will ultimately depend on which side can endure the most pain.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau: