US President Donald Trump has shared a link on his Truth Social account to an article discussing the potential for a naval blockade against Iran, without directly addressing the failed peace discussions in Islamabad. The piece, authored by John Solomon and featured on the conservative site Just the News, references analysts who propose that Trump could counter Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz through such a measure.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed regret over the unsuccessful negotiations between the United States and Iran, emphasizing the need to maintain the ceasefire and resume discussions promptly. She highlighted the importance of a quick resolution to avoid further human suffering and economic repercussions from any escalation.
A representative from Iran’s foreign ministry stated that the Islamabad sessions occurred amid mutual suspicion, noting it was impractical to expect a resolution in a single meeting. The official added that Iran would maintain communications with Pakistan and regional partners moving forward.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed on Sunday that both Washington and Tehran should adhere to the ceasefire following the inconclusive talks aimed at halting the Middle East conflict. He affirmed Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to supporting dialogue between the two nations.
Pope Leo XIV addressed global tensions during evening prayers in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, calling for an end to warfare and criticizing the arrogance that fuels international disputes.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington and an associate of Pope Leo XIV, urged Catholics to engage politically against what he described as the unethical conflict with Iran. In a recorded speech, he encouraged advocacy for peace beyond mere prayer, warning of potential renewed hostilities if talks collapse due to intransigence.
Notably, US Vice President JD Vance, who spearheaded the American departure from the negotiations, converted to Catholicism in 2019 and has recently publicized a memoir on the topic.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing an informed source, Tehran is not rushing into further talks and insists on a fair agreement from the US; otherwise, the status in the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged. The strait, vital for global oil transport, is a key US condition for concluding the conflict.
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of Middle East developments, where US-Iran peace efforts in Islamabad concluded without success on Sunday. After an exhaustive 21-hour initial session, Vice President JD Vance declared that the US team was departing Pakistan, citing Iran’s refusal to agree to terms like forgoing nuclear arms development. Iranian outlets attributed the failure to excessive US demands.
For those catching up, the high-level direct talks—the most significant between the US and Iran in years—aimed to broker peace amid the ongoing war but ended without accord. The US group, headed by Vance, has now exited Pakistan. Iran’s foreign ministry had previously cautioned about the challenges ahead.
