Tensions Escalate in Strait of Hormuz as Trump Rejects Sending Envoys to Pakistan for Iran Peace Talks

Kuala Lumpur — Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to rise after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boarded two container ships near the vital waterway, while U.S. President Donald Trump stated that peace talks with Iran can be conducted by phone only, rejecting the idea of sending envoys to Pakistan.

Trump said he will not dispatch Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan following the departure of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from Islamabad. “If they want to talk, they can come to us or call us,” Trump said in a Fox News interview on Sunday. He added that pressure on Iran’s oil pipelines could cause an explosion within three days due to lack of storage space.

Meanwhile, Araghchi is now in St. Petersburg, Russia, for talks with President Vladimir Putin. He blamed Washington’s “excessive demands” for the failure of previous negotiations. Araghchi also visited Oman over the weekend and discussed coordination on the Strait of Hormuz with his counterpart, stressing the shared importance of the waterway for both nations.

IRGC Takes Maritime Action Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the IRGC boarded two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee, said Tehran is pursuing a “new maritime regime” in those waters. The U.S. continues to impose sanctions on Iranian ports, including stopping Iranian-flagged oil tankers.

The developments have pushed oil prices higher. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.1% to US$96.42 per barrel, while Brent climbed 2.3% to US$107.71 per barrel. Asian stock markets showed mixed performance, with Japan’s Nikkei edging slightly higher.

War’s Impact on Iran’s Infrastructure Iran has been forced to cut natural gas usage after Israeli airstrikes damaged facilities at the South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest fields shared with Qatar. Reconstruction is expected to begin soon, but domestic gas supply has been severely affected.

In Tehran, the city governor reported the loss of more than 18.5 million gallons of fuel due to the destruction of storage tanks in early strikes. Despite this, petrol stations remain operational because fuel consumption has dropped by half due to fewer vehicles on the roads.

Background The conflict is part of a wider war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Trump insisted he will not be distracted by the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and will continue to “win the war in Iran.” He also criticized Pope Leo XIV for his anti-war stance.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical oil transit route — could severely disrupt global energy supplies if tensions worsen. International shipping is increasingly avoiding the area.

This report is compiled based on live coverage from The Wall Street Journal. The situation is developing rapidly.