MIDDLE EAST LIVE 13 April: US-Iran talks falter; Strait of Hormuz uncertainty deepens

Developments over the weekend have raised fresh concerns across the Middle East and beyond after talks between the United States and Iran on Saturday ended without agreement, fuelling uncertainty and renewed tensions. The US announcement of a planned blockade targeting Iranian ports has added to fears of further escalation and potential disruption to global trade routes. Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with Lebanese authorities reporting that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes has now surpassed 2,000 since the escalation began last month.