U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a second round of ceasefire talks with Iran will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The remarks came just one day after Iranian forces closed the Strait of Hormuz following its reopening, drawing attention to how the upcoming talks will unfold.
On the 19th (local time), President Trump wrote on Truth Social, "The U.S. delegation is heading to Islamabad and will arrive the following evening (the 20th) to engage in negotiations." He went on to claim, "Iran announced the closure of the strait, but it is meaningless since it is already closed due to the U.S. blockade," adding, "Iran is unknowingly helping the United States and losing $500 million (about 710 billion won) a day." Trump also reiterated his pressure, warning that if Iran refuses negotiations, the U.S. will destroy all power plants and bridges.
According to local media outlets such as the Express Tribune and Dawn, Pakistani authorities issued a red alert starting that day around the capital's Islamabad International Airport and key areas of the Nur Khan Air Base in the neighboring city of Rawalpindi, effectively locking down the area.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated in a release posted on its own propaganda outlet the previous day, "All attempts to access the Strait of Hormuz will be regarded as cooperation with the enemy and ships will be attacked," announcing the reclosure of the strait from that day. This came just one day after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on X (formerly Twitter) that "during the remaining ceasefire period, all commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz are fully permitted to navigate."
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) actually received reports that same day that an oil tanker and a container ship bound for India had been attacked in succession near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Tasnim News emphasized, "Amid the ongoing maritime blockade led by Iran, the Iranian military turned back two more oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
In an era where war has become an easy "option," is the Middle East war only just beginning?
