US forces lift Iran ports blockade as uncertainty clouds planned Switzerland talks
Key takeaways
- The US lifted its blockade of Iranian ports on Thursday after US President Donald Trump and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an interim peace deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.
- The signing of the deal by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set in motion a 60-day period for talks on wider issues between the two foes, including the Iranian nuclear programme.
- Read moreMiddle East live: 12.5 million oil barrels transited the Strait of Hormuz overnight, Vance says
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The US lifted its blockade of Iranian ports on Thursday after US President Donald Trump and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an interim peace deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. But uncertainty surrounded Friday's planned talks in Switzerland as both sides prepared for negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
By: FRANCE 24 This US Navy handout photo released on May 8, 2026 by US Central Command Public Affairs shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implementing a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby as it was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 24, 2026. © AFP The US on Thursday lifted a blockade of Iranian ports imposed during the Middle East war after President Donald Trump signed a deal to end the conflict, as uncertainty surrounded planned talks in Switzerland aiming to take the accord further.
The signing of the deal by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set in motion a 60-day period for talks on wider issues between the two foes, including the Iranian nuclear programme.