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Live Updates: Iran war continues with U.S. blockade of ports; Lebanon and Israel hold direct talks - CBS News
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper says a blockade of Iranian ports "has been fully implemented," as the U.S.-Iran impasse over control of the Strait of Hormuz continues amid a delicate ceasefire.
Follow updates on the war in the Middle East for Wednesday, April 15, here. See earlier developments below.
What to know about the Iran war:
- The U.S. blockade of Iran's ports was "fully implemented" on Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said, as Washington pressures Tehran to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint for shipments of oil, fertilizer and other vital commodities. Iran is threatening to retaliate and has said no Gulf ports will be safe if the blockade continues.
- Pakistan is attempting to arrange a second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks after last weekend's marathon session in Islamabad ended without an agreement. The war is now in its seventh week. A two-week truce is set to expire Tuesday.
- Mr. Trump said in an interview that the next round of talks could take place "over the next two days."
- Lebanese and Israeli officials met in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the first direct diplomatic talks between the two countries since 1993. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part in the session, which resulted in an agreement to "launch direct negotiations," the countries said in a joint statement.
Trump criticizes pope and NATO again
Among a series of posts on his Truth Social platform overnight, President Trump continued disparaging Pope Leo and NATO.
In one post, he asked, "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable."
The pontiff has panned the administration's actions in Iran, among other things, and the president has taken exception.
The administration says ending Tehran's nuclear program is one of its key goals in the war with Iran. Rights groups say the Iranian regime killed tens of thousands of people who took to the streets to demonstrate against the Iranian regime earlier this year.
In another post, the president repeated his frequent characterization of the actions of other NATO nations during the war, saying, "NATO wasn't there for us, and they won't be there for us in the future!"
Pakistan keeping pressure on for new U.S.-Iran talks
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey this week during a diplomatic push to secure a new round of talks between the United States and Iran, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The trip comes days after Islamabad hosted marathon negotiations last weekend that ended without a formal agreement.
Sharif is attempting to facilitate a second round before a fragile ceasefire expires next week.
The ministry said the visits will start Wednesday and conclude on Saturday.
President Trump said Tuesday in clips of an interview set to air Wednesday on Fox Business Network that the war "is very close to over," and he told the New York Post Tuesday that a second round of talks with Iran "could be happening over next two days," in Islamabad again.
Late Tuesday night, ABC News Chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl said on social media that Mr. Trump "told me today he isn't thinking about extending the ceasefire. He doesn't think it will be necessary."
Karl quoted the president as saying, "I think you're going to be watching an amazing two days ahead. I really do."
CENTCOM says blockade of Iranian ports is "fully implemented"
In a statement Tuesday night, U.S. Central Command said a blockade of Iranian ports "has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East."
"An estimated 90% of Iran's economy is fueled by international trade by sea," Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in the statement. "In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea."
U.S. destroyer interdicts 2 oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. official tells CBS News
A U.S. destroyer interdicted two oil tankers on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News.
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