Islamabad Talks Ended, What’s happening today?

Just two days ago, the world watched as high-stakes peace talks unfolded right here in Islamabad at the Serena Hotel. Pakistan played host to the first direct US-Iran negotiations in decades, with the goal of ending the brutal 43-day Middle East war that tore through the region from February 28 to April 12.

Who was in the room?

• US team: Vice President J.D. Vance leading the charge, joined by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
• Iranian side: Senior officials including Mohammad Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi.

Pakistan’s diplomats shuttled between both sides for weeks to make this happen. The sessions went on for a staggering 21 hours straight. The agenda was heavy: reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, lifting sanctions, and sorting out war reparations.

The outcome?

No deal. Zero. Talks completely collapsed.

US officials called Iran’s demands “completely unreasonable,” especially around the nuclear file. Iran fired back, accusing the Americans of bad faith. By the end of Day 2, Vance confirmed the US delegation was packing up and heading home with nothing signed. The fragile two-week ceasefire that stopped the fighting is now on life support.

Fast forward to TODAY (April 13)

President Trump didn’t waste a single second. This morning he announced that the US Navy is moving in immediately to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Here’s exactly what’s happening right now:

• The blockade kicks off today at 7:00 PM Pakistan time (2:00 PM GMT).
• US forces will stop all ships going in or out of Iranian ports.
• Non-Iranian commercial traffic can still pass — it’s not a total shutdown of the strait (yet).
• The stated goal: choke off Iran’s oil exports (roughly 2 million barrels per day) and force Tehran back to the table on nuclear issues and reopening the waterway.

US Central Command already has warships in position, and they’ve been clearing mines in the area since the war ended. Oil prices have shot past $100 per barrel in the last few hours, and global markets are in full panic mode.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) just issued a strong warning of a “firm and decisive response.” The ceasefire that barely held after 43 days of hell is now hanging by a thread.

This is exactly what Trump warned would happen if the Islamabad talks failed — and here we are, 48 hours later.

The next few hours are critical. Shipping lanes that supply 20% of the world’s oil are now a military flashpoint again. Pakistan is calling for immediate restraint from all sides to avoid another explosion.

Stay tuned — I’ll keep you posted with the latest developments and fresh images from the strait as they come in. This situation is moving extremely fast.