War in the Middle East: American blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, mutual threats… what to remember from the last o

Donald Trump announced on Sunday, April 12, an American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following failed talks with Iran in Islamabad on nuclear issues in the context of the Middle East war. Let’s review this day of tension.

Essentials: – Donald Trump announces a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after failed talks in Islamabad. Washington accuses Iran of refusing to compromise on nuclear issues and mentions possible strikes on energy infrastructure. – Tehran denounces an “act of war” through Parliament and the Revolutionary Guards, while traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is heavily disrupted with ships blocked and tankers forced to turn back. – The crisis is part of the Middle East war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, with thousands of deaths in Iran and Lebanon. Mediation efforts from Pakistan and Oman are still trying to avoid further escalation.

Trump announced an American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Iran of refusing to give up its nuclear ambitions after direct talks failed to end the war in the Middle East.

While he assured that the discussions in Islamabad, lasting over 20 hours, were “good” and that “most points had been agreed upon,” the US President reaffirmed readiness to strike Iranian energy infrastructure, indicating that Tehran had refused to compromise on nuclear issues.

“We are overwhelmed by despair and helplessness. We have had enough of this uncertainty,” Nahid, a 60-year-old homemaker in Tehran, reacted, affected by six weeks of Israeli-American bombings.

“It didn’t seem like there was anyone really willing to negotiate,” commented Laura Kaufman, a 38-year-old teacher in Tel Aviv.

Accusing Iran of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons – which Tehran denies – the US justified the offensive launched with Israel on February 28, triggering a war that has caused thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and disrupted the global economy.

“Act of war”

The US will begin a “blockade process of all ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz,” strategic for global trade and oil supply, wrote the American President in his first reaction to the announcement, after talks failed.

Without detailing the modalities of such an operation, when the passage has been controlled by Iran since the beginning of the war, he affirmed on Fox News that the UK and “a few other countries” would send minesweepers.

“Iran will not yield to any threat,” responded Parliament President Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in Islamabad.

The Revolutionary Guards have threatened to trap their enemies in a “deadly whirlpool,” claiming to have “fully under control” the traffic in the strait, where Tehran has imposed passage rights.

According to the Iranian news agency Fars, two Pakistani-flagged tankers heading there turned back on Sunday, while hundreds of merchant ships remain blocked.

“An American blockade is an act of war, suggesting that Washington is becoming increasingly disillusioned with diplomacy,” analyzed Nicole Grajewski, a researcher at the International Research Center in Paris.

“Distrust”

Since the deadlock of the talks was announced, Pakistan has called for respect for the ceasefire agreed between Tehran and Washington last Wednesday. Neither party has commented on the fate of the ceasefire set to expire on April 22.

Oman, a mediator between the two countries before the war, called for “painful concessions” for a negotiated settlement. While the delegations have left Pakistan, they have not closed the door to further negotiations.

“We are leaving here with a very simple proposal, an approach that constitutes our final and best offer,” Vice President JD Vance said before leaving Islamabad. “We will see if the Iranians accept it.”

Tehran on its part blamed the failure of the talks on American attempts to “dictate their conditions,” with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei citing “an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust.” For him, “it was obvious” that an agreement could not be reached “in a single session.”

Lebanese front

On the second main front of the war, Lebanon, talks are scheduled for Tuesday between Lebanese and American representatives in Washington, after Israel gave the green light under American pressure.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 2,000 deaths since the country entered the war on March 2 by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which has rejected direct negotiations.

After the ceasefire took effect, Israel claimed that Lebanon, where it is fighting the Shiite movement, was not included in the agreement.

During his first visit to southern Lebanon since the hostilities began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the army, after advancing into Lebanese territory to establish a so-called “security zone,” had “thwarted the threat of invasion.” His Lebanese counterpart Nawaf Salam stated that Beirut was working to obtain a complete Israeli withdrawal.