Trump says US will not lift Hormuz blockade until deal made with Iran

Trump says US will not lift Hormuz blockade until deal made with Iran6 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSofia Ferreira SantosWatch: Can Iran and the US find middle ground to make a deal?The US will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a deal has been reached with Tehran, US President Donald Trump has said, amid continuing uncertainty over whether fresh talks to end the war will take place.The blockade, which began a week ago, is "absolutely destroying Iran", Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding his country was winning the conflict "by a lot".His comments come with the temporary US-Iran ceasefire set to end on Wednesday, but with no certainty over whether a second round of peace talks will go ahead in Pakistan.There is tightened security in Pakistan's capital in anticipation of a meeting. But US Vice President JD Vance - set to lead the US delegation - has not yet left Washington, while Iran says it has not decided whether to attend.Why and how is US blockading Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz?Tehran will never cede control of Strait of Hormuz, senior Iranian politician tells BBCUS blockade of Iranian ports explained in two minutesSince the blockade began, US forces have directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port, according to US Central Command (Centcom).The US also intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship for the first time in the conflict, after it tried to get through the blockade on Sunday.Videos shared by Centcom were said to show the ship being warned before troops repelled onto the vessel.Tehran deemed it an "act of piracy" and a violation of the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.Iran has maintained its own blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, for nearly two months - causing global energy prices to soar.It was briefly re-opened on Saturday but quickly closed again, following reports of vessels in or near the strait, i...