- 'Iran doesn't want the Strait of Hormuz closed': Trump -

US President Donald Trump said Iran wanted the Strait of Hormuz open in a Truth social post on Tuesday "so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day", which he said the Gulf nation would risk losing if it remains closed.

Trump insisted in the post that keeping a US blockade of the strait, a critical waterway for about a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas exports, was vital for forging a deal with Iran.

"People approached me four days ago, saying, 'Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.' But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!," Trump said in the post.

In a later post, Trump said "Iran is collapsing financially!" and alleged Iran was "Starving for cash!" adding that the "Military and Police complaining that they are not getting paid. SOS!!!"

- Blockade of Iranian ports -

Since the first round of talks in Islamabad, Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports, which US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said would remain in place.

"In a matter of days, Kharg Island storage will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in," Bessent said in an X post Tuesday, adding that constraining Iran's maritime trade would target its "primary revenue lifelines".

He warned: "Any person or vessel facilitating these flows-through covert trade and finance-risks exposure to U.S. sanctions."

- Trump extends ceasefire, maintains blockade -

Trump extended the US ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for peace talks, with Tehran silent on the decision early Wednesday.

The US president posted on social media Tuesday that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade".

The ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire.

- Iran threatens Gulf oil -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened to prevent oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours' territory.

"The southern neighbours should know that if their geography and facilities are used in the service of the enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they should bid farewell to oil production in the Middle East," the commander of Guards' aerospace force, Majid Mousavi, was quoted by Fars news agency as saying on Tuesday.

- Vance delays departure -

Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to lead a US delegation at upcoming negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, was still in Washington midday Tuesday to participate in meetings, the White House said, despite recent reports saying he was to leave that morning.

"Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate," an official said in a brief statement sent to AFP shortly after 1700 GMT.

- Lebanon seeks 500 mn euros -

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday the country needed 500 million euros ($590 million) to address the conflict's ongoing humanitarian fallout amid a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

"Lebanon needs 500 million euros to tackle the humanitarian crisis over the next six months," Salam said during a news conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.

- Hezbollah retaliates against Israel -

Hezbollah said it launched an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for what it said were Israeli violations of a 10-day ceasefire, the first such claim since the truce began.

The Iran-backed group said in a statement that its fighters launched rockets and attack drones at a site in northern Israel that it said was the source of artillery shelling towards a south Lebanon town.

- Lebanon ups toll -

Lebanon raised the toll from six weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah to 2,454 dead as a fragile 10-day ceasefire holds.

- Seafarers' SOS -

The head of the UN maritime agency appealed for help for thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded since US-Israeli strikes on Iran started the Middle East war on February 28, according to the International Maritime Organization.

- No Iranian departure -

"So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation; primary or secondary," Iranian state TV said, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.

A source familiar with the US planning for the talks told AFP that an American delegation will head to Pakistan "soon" for a new round of peace negotiations.

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