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Iran war: What’s happening on day 62 as Trump asks Iran to ‘give up’?
TL;DR
President Trump claims the US blockade of Iranian ports is effective, urging Iran to 'just give up' amid escalating tensions. Iran's leaders reject this pressure, while oil prices surge above $120 a barrel due to the conflict.
Key points
- Trump claims US blockade of Iranian ports is successful
- Iran dismisses US pressure as ineffective
- Military restraint in Iran aims to allow diplomacy
- Oil prices surge above $120 a barrel
- Conflict enters day 62
Mentioned in this story
Donald TrumpMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Strait of Hormuz
United States President Donald Trump says Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been a success, urging Tehran to “just give up” as pressure mounts in a deepening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has pushed back strongly, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissing the US campaign as ineffective, while the military says its restraint so far has been “intended to give diplomacy a chance”.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rippling through global markets, sending oil prices above $120 a barrel and driving US petrol prices to a four-year high.
Here is what we know as the conflict enters day 62:
In Iran
- Iran speaker dismisses blockade’s impact on oil: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said no oil wells have “exploded” under the US blockade, arguing the measures have only driven up global prices. He added Iran’s storage has not reached capacity and accused US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, of acting on “junk advice” over the policy.
- Can the blockade force a production halt? The US says cutting off exports will eventually push Iran’s storage to capacity, forcing output to stop, but analysts say remaining storage may cover only about 20 days of output. As Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, notes, any cuts are likely to be gradual, with a higher chance of acceleration into May.
- ‘Inappropriate behaviour’: Top Iranian football officials left World Cup cohosts Canada before the start of the FIFA Congress because of “inappropriate behaviour” by immigration officials at Toronto airport, Iranian media said.
War diplomacy
- Putin-Trump talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart Donald Trump not to resume attacks on Iran. In a phone call between the two leaders, Putin said Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire was “the right one”, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters, including from the AFP news agency.
- Sticking points in US-Iran negotiations: The two sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium stockpile, the US blockade, the release of $20bn in Iranian assets, and Tehran’s demand for $270bn in war reparations.
- Geopolitical ripple effects: OPEC is reportedly in “crisis mode” amid the energy shock and the UAE’s plan to exit the group. Trump is also weighing a reduction of US troops in Germany after tensions with Berlin.
In the Gulf
Q&A
What did Trump say about the US blockade of Iranian ports?
Trump stated that the blockade has been a success and urged Iran to 'just give up' amid rising tensions.
How is Iran responding to the US pressure?
Iran's Parliament Speaker dismissed the US campaign as ineffective, emphasizing that military restraint is aimed at allowing diplomacy a chance.
What impact is the conflict having on global oil prices?
The tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused oil prices to rise above $120 a barrel, affecting global markets and US petrol prices.
How long has the conflict been ongoing?
The conflict has entered its 62nd day, with escalating tensions and international implications.
