US and Iran in blockade standoff as Pakistan pushes for talks

US and Iran in blockade standoff as Pakistan pushes for talks14 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePaul AdamsDiplomatic correspondent, in IslamabadAFP via Getty ImagesCourtesy of last night's Truth Social post from US President Donald Trump, the ceasefire between Iran, the US and Israel which was due to expire on Wednesday does at least persist.Instead of fighting, we have a "war of blockades" over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides using force to intercept and seize commercial vessels.The mood out in one of the world's most important waterways is combustible. It would be unwise to bet against events spiralling out of control.In the meantime, Islamabad still waits for Iranian and American representatives to arrive for peace talks.Parts of the city remain sealed off, the signs are still up and the hotel where talks were expected to take place is empty, ready for the hoped-for return of high-level delegations.But after several days of fevered anticipation, the atmosphere has changed.Follow live updates on this storyUS and Iran 'locked in war of words' says Lyse DoucetIran says it has seized two ships in Strait of Hormuz after vessels attackedGone is the talk of press pools in faraway Washington being told to head for the airport, or speculation about the contents of the giant C-17 Globemaster transport planes that landed at a nearby military airbase earlier in the week.In its place is the gloomy realisation that an opportunity for Pakistan to prove itself on the international stage, to broker a deal - any kind of deal - between mortal enemies may have slipped out of Islamabad's grasp. For now.Pakistan has not given up. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has invested considerable diplomatic capital in getting the two parties together, posted on social media that Pakistan would "continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of the conflict".Donald Trump has told at least one journalist that a deal is st...