What next for Trump after stalled talks?

The failure of US-Iran peace talks has left Donald Trump with several unpalatable options, as analysts say his order to blockade the Strait of Hormuz could further complicate his next move.

- Agence France-Presse

Any hopes that US Vice President JD Vance would emerge from the negotiations with a deal to end a war were dashed when he left Pakistan empty handed.

Protracted talks would undermine Trump’s insistence that Iran has “no cards” left to play, while ramping up military action would expose US forces to heightened risk and could alienate voters — already angry with surging gas prices — ahead of midterm elections.

And the blockade of the strait through which a fifth of the world’s oil moves would do little to ease global economic jitters.