Iran stand-off deepens

THE standoff between the United States and Iran has deepened as the US declared it had blockaded Iran's ports, Iran threatened to strike targets across the Middle East, and Pakistan yesterday said it was racing to bring the sides together for more talks.

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Though last week's ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route, risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the region-wide war's economic fallout.

Talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict - which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran - failed to produce an agreement in Islamabad last weekend, though Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round in the coming days. Pakistani officials said that the first talks were part of an ongoing diplomatic process rather than a one-off effort.