US blockade of Iran ports escalates as nuclear talks collapse

The U.S. military has implemented a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastal areas, aiming to cut off Iranian oil exports and force a peace agreement after direct negotiations broke down over the weekend. President Trump asserts the ceasefire is holding and maintains that Iran wants to make a deal, while Vice President J.D. Vance says Iran has not accepted American demands regarding its nuclear program. Iran calls the partial blockade an act of piracy and warns of escalating regional threats as oil prices rise, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediates talks between Israel and Lebanon to address the conflict with Hezbollah. Meanwhile, tensions have grown between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV, who has criticized the war and advocated for peace, prompting calls for restraint from lawmakers.