The US extended a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks but ordered its blockade of Iranian ports to continue, a move President Trump says is needed to pressure Iran. Trump also said Iran prefers the Strait of Hormuz open to earn about $500 million per day. US officials warned of sanctions on any parties facilitating Iran’s maritime trade, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to disrupt regional oil production if neighbouring territories are used to mount attacks. Lebanon requested €500 million for humanitarian relief, Hezbollah reported a retaliatory strike, and thousands of seafarers remain stranded.
Middle East War: US Extends Ceasefire But Keeps Blockade — Trump Says Iran Wants Strait Of Hormuz Open To Earn $500M/Day
Lebanese rescuers personnel search for missing people in the river beneath the bomb-damaged Qasmiyeh bridge near the southern city of Tyre (Kawnat HAJU)(Kawnat HAJU/AFP/AFP)
The latest developments in the Middle East conflict:
Trump: Iran Prefers Hormuz Open, Warns On Deal
US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran prefers the Strait of Hormuz to remain open “so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day,” warning that closing the waterway would eliminate that revenue. He said a US blockade of the strait—an artery carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports—is essential leverage in negotiations and added that a deal would not be possible “unless we blow up the rest of their country, their leaders included.” He later claimed Iran is “collapsing financially” and that security forces are not being paid.
Blockade Of Iranian Ports
Following the first round of talks in Islamabad, the US announced a blockade of Iranian ports. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the blockade would remain in place, warning that storage on Kharg Island could fill and that some Iranian wells might be shut in within days. He cautioned that any person or vessel facilitating Iran’s maritime trade risks exposure to US sanctions.
Ceasefire Extended, Blockade Maintained
President Trump said the US would extend its ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks while directing the military to maintain the maritime blockade. Tehran had not issued an immediate public response as of early Wednesday.
Iran Warns Of Regional Oil Disruption
Commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if neighbouring states allow their territory or facilities to be used to attack Iran, they could face the loss of oil production across the Middle East. Majid Mousavi, commander of the Guards' aerospace force, issued the warning to Fars news agency.
Diplomacy And Delays
Vice President J.D. Vance, expected to lead a US delegation to upcoming negotiations in Pakistan, remained in Washington to participate in additional policy meetings, the White House said. Iranian state television also reported that no Iranian delegation had yet departed for Islamabad.
Humanitarian And Military Developments
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon needs €500 million (about $590 million) to address the humanitarian fallout over the next six months amid a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon raised its death toll from six weeks of fighting to 2,454.
Hezbollah said it launched rockets and attack drones at a site in northern Israel in retaliation for alleged ceasefire violations, marking the first such claim since the truce began.
Maritime Impact
The head of the International Maritime Organization appealed for assistance for thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The IMO estimates roughly 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been affected since strikes began on February 28.
Note: Reporting remains fluid. Figures and statements reflect sources cited in the original dispatches.
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