Iran Threatens Shipping in Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Red Sea if US Blockade Persists
The operational headquarters of the Iranian armed forces has issued a warning that it will threaten shipping beyond the Strait of Hormuz if the US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues.
Maj Gen Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that if the blockade "creates insecurity for Iran’s merchant and oil tanker vessels," Tehran would regard it as a breach of the ceasefire.
"In that case, the Iranian armed forces will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Red Sea," he said in a statement reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim agency.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that a high-ranking Pakistani delegation is scheduled to visit Tehran today to follow up on talks held with the US in Islamabad.
"During this visit, the views of both sides are likely to be discussed in detail," Baghaei said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the delegation's details and visit. Pakistani sources indicated that senior intelligence and military officials are part of the delegation, though Pakistan’s military media wing has yet to issue a statement.
Baghaei also revealed that several messages have been exchanged with the US through Pakistan since the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran after the Islamabad talks.
"Since Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan," Baghaei said during his press briefing.
One-Week Ceasefire in Lebanon to Begin Tonight, According to Pro-Hezbollah Media
The pro-Hezbollah outlet al-Mayadeen, citing an Iranian official, reported that a one-week ceasefire will commence in Lebanon starting tonight. This development follows pressure from Iran, according to the official, and will coincide with the final week of the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran.
However, Israel’s Channel 12 news reported that Israel has not yet made a decision on the ceasefire. According to its sources, a senior Israeli official said the idea of declaring a week-long ceasefire in Lebanon was proposed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Channel 12 added that the Israeli cabinet will convene tonight to discuss the matter, noting that some ministers advocate resuming attacks in Beirut and beyond the Litani River.
Finance ministers from over ten countries, including the UK, have called for a "swift and lasting" end to the US-Iran war.
In a joint statement issued by the UK Treasury, the ministers expressed concern over the US-Israeli strikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks, citing "unacceptable loss of life and significant disruption to the global economy and financial markets."
While welcoming the ceasefire, they noted that the effects of the war on "growth, inflation and markets will persist" even if the conflict resolves.
"We call for a swift and lasting negotiated resolution to the conflict, and a return to free and safe transit through the strait of Hormuz, that mitigates impacts on growth, energy prices and living standards, in particular for the poorest and most vulnerable," the statement said.
The statement was signed by finance ministers from the UK, Australia, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Poland, and New Zealand.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded firmly to US President Donald Trump’s threat to alter the UK-US trade deal over Britain’s refusal to join the war.
"My position on the war has been clear from the start. We’re not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war," Starmer said.
"I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war, and we will not do so."
Iran’s foreign ministry reiterated Tehran’s right to enrich uranium as "indisputable," though the level of enrichment remains "negotiable."
During a weekly press briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei emphasized that the right to peaceful nuclear energy use cannot be "taken away under pressure or through war."
"Regarding the level and type of enrichment, we have always stated that this issue is negotiable. We have emphasised that Iran should be able to continue enrichment in accordance with its needs," he added.
A senior US official stated on Wednesday that the United States has not formally agreed to extend its ceasefire with Iran.
"There is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal," the official told .
Trump Says China Supports Permanent Opening of Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump declared that China and the United States are collaborating, and that Beijing is pleased with his efforts to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz.
"China is very happy that I am permanently opening the . I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!"
Summary of Developments So Far
Donald Trump stated that the war was "close to over," hinting at another round of peace talks in Pakistan in the coming days. Speaking to Fox News, the US president said the conflict was near its end.
"I think it’s close to over, yeah, I mean I view it as very close to over."
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, suggesting that any US-Iran talks will not occur soon.
Iran has threatened shipping beyond the Strait of Hormuz if the US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues. The Iranian military declared it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.
Trump said he exchanged letters with Chinese President Xi Jinping urging him not to supply weapons to Iran. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Xi "essentially" told him that China was "not doing that."
Trump also expressed optimism that gas prices will be "much lower" before the midterm elections.
"Gasoline is coming down very soon and very big," he told Fox News.
The US president criticized the UK, telling that he had given Britain a "good trade deal" but warned that the deal could "always be changed."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country is not seeking war but dialogue, warning that any US attempt to impose its will or force Tehran to surrender "is doomed to failure."
The Israeli military has continued strikes on southern Lebanon, issuing another order forcing residents to evacuate their homes south of the Zahrani River.
Donald Trump suggested that another round of peace talks "could be happening over the next two days" in Pakistan.
However, in Islamabad, there is little indication of this, as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the army are away on foreign trips, according to Shah Meer Baloch.
Sharif, accompanied by a high-level delegation including army chief Asim Munir, departed for a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, leaving the chances of Iran-US second-round talks on Thursday or Friday in Islamabad unlikely.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated that Sharif was undertaking an official visit to discuss ending the war from April 15 to 18.
This development makes it difficult for Iran and US talks to be held imminently, official sources said.
Iranian and Pakistani sources indicated that talks would take place soon but expressed little hope of them occurring within a day or two. The sources did not confirm any dates or venues, although Iranian sources expressed a preference for Islamabad as the location.
"We don’t have confirmation about the venue of talks yet. Islamabad is one of the venues under discussion so far," said one official Iranian source.
