USS Abraham Lincoln conducts U.S. blockade operations in the Arabian Sea, Apr. 16, 2026. Lincoln has been operating inthe Middle East since January, anchoring the U.S. naval prescense in supporting the blockade against Iran as the ceasefire approaches expiration. (U.S. Navy)
Both the United States and Iran are signaling readiness to resume hostilities as U.S. officials travel to Pakistan on Monday for another potential round of talks before a two-week ceasefire expires.
The effort at diplomacy comes as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become more volatile. Over the weekend, Iran fired on commercial vessels and the U.S. seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman.
Khatam al-Anbiya, the operational headquarters of Iran’s armed forces, vowed Monday to take “necessary action” against the U.S. following its capture of the commercial ship.
Iran targeted U.S. ships with drone strikes in retaliation, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, though there were no reports of damage as of Monday morning.
The ceasefire has prevented a return to full-scale hostilities, but it has also been marked by conflicting public statements and accusations of violations, as both sides continue to clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the start of hostilities nearly two months ago.
With the ceasefire set to expire Wednesday, both parties appear far apart on key issues, including Iran’s nuclear development. The U.S. insists that Iran turn over its supply of enriched uranium, while Iranian officials reject the demand as a nonstarter.
President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed once again to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure if a deal is not reached. In a post to Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. will “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” adding “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance sails toward the fleet replenishment oiler Henry J. Kaiser while conducting a replenishment-at-sea with the guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Peterson Jr. on Dec. 22, 2025. Spruance, assigned to the Lincoln strike group, carried out an interdiction operation Sunday as part of the ongoing U.S. blockade against Iran. (Jordan Steis/U.S. Navy)
Restoring commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is a top priority for the U.S. and international community, which has seen a surge in fuel prices since Iran imposed shipping restrictions on the critical trade corridor.
But for now, the U.S. military is focused on imposing its own naval blockade, which aims to apply economic pressure on Iran by further restricting shipping through the strait.
On Sunday, U.S. forces aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the cargo ship M/V Touska after it ignored six hours of repeated warnings, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. forces then directed the crew to clear its engine room and fired several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch Mk 45 gun into the ship.
CENTCOM on Monday released video footage of Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit seizing the Iranian-flagged Touska. The grainy footage shows Marines leaving the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and rappelling from helicopters onto the vessel.
Meanwhile, there is continued uncertainty about the status of talks, which would be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
U.S. officials said Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation. But Tehran has not yet decided whether to attend, an Iranian spokesman said Monday, accusing the U.S. of showing a lack of seriousness when it comes to diplomacy, according to Tasnim.
If fighting resumes, it would mean more disruption to a region that is already reeling from conflict.
Since the U.S. and Israel launched joint attacks in late February, U.S. forces have decimated large swaths of Iran’s missile stockpile, its navy and its air force, according to U.S. Central Command.
Iran, in response, has fired hundreds of drones and missiles at neighboring countries and nearby U.S. bases.
Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed and hundreds more wounded as part of the operation, according to CENTCOM. In Iran, the death toll is now at least 3,375 people, according to the nation’s head of forensic medicine.
