Oil,Oil, Naval Blockade

 

AP

NPR

President Trump announced yesterday that the U.S. will impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The U.S. military's Central Command said that a blockade on ships traveling to or from Iran will start today at 10 a.m. ET. The decision came just hours after U.S.-Iran peace talks failed to produce a breakthrough. When asked about the key issue that led to the negotiation breakdown, Vice President Vance said: "The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon."

🎧 Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz's closure to its advantage, frustrating Trump and pushing global oil prices higher, NPR’s Greg Myre tells Up First. While some oil still flows from Iran, the country charges foreign ships up to $2 million to pass through the crucial waterway. The Trump administration's blockade doesn't improve prospects for potential peace talks. Myre says Trump appears to hope the increased pressure will force Iran to make concessions, while Iran seems to feel it is in a pretty strong negotiating position, as it has withstood weeks of heavy U.S. and Israeli bombing.  🎧 Trump's blockade announcement is threatening an already shaky ceasefire. Violence continues in Lebanon, where Israeli forces are targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese authorities say there have been more than 100 fatalities, including a Red Cross paramedic, during this weekend's attacks. Hezbollah held a rally this weekend that filled several city blocks in Beirut, according to NPR’s Lauren Frayer. While some Lebanese people support Hezbollah, some also blame the group for dragging them into yet another war. Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors are set to have ceasefire talks in Washington tomorrow. It will be the first direct government-to-government talks between the two countries since 1983. ➡️ In a 40-minute interview, a wounded Hezbollah commander gave NPR a rare glimpse into the militant group's capabilities, new command structure and fresh tactics for evading Israeli surveillance.