TIMELINE: Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil prices

The beginning of Week 4 of the conflict in the Middle East has been marked by a roller coaster-like series of events, with Donald Trump on March 22 threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours, a significant escalation barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war.

The following day, oil prices went down after Trump announced on Truth Social that he had ordered the postponement of military action against Iran, claiming the US and the Islamic Republic had very good and productive conversations for a complete resolution of the conflict. Iran has since denied negotiating with the US, calling it fake news.

Please refresh the following article for daily updates on the Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil prices.

Day 24

Trump said on Monday, March 23, that he gave instructions to postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days, just hours ahead of a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict now in its fourth week.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the US and Iran have had "VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE" conversations with Iran over the past two days about a "COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST."

After Trump made the announcement, the price of US crude fell 8.58% to $89.80 a barrel, and Brent fell to $101.89 per barrel, down 9.14% on the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,021.70 points, or 2.24%, to 46,599.17, the S&P 500 rose 136.26 points, or 2.09%, to 6,642.74, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 493.02 points, or 2.28%, to 22,140.63.

Day 25

Iran, on Tuesday, March 24, denied that it had engaged in negotiations with the US, after Trump postponed a threat to bomb Iran's power grid because of what he described as productive talks with unidentified Iranian officials.

"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said.

On the same day, Iran was reported to have launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, after Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb the Islamic Republic's power grid because of what he described as productive talks with Iranian officials.

The missiles triggered air raid sirens in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv, where blasts from interceptions were heard. In one attack, homes in northern Israel were damaged by falling debris following an interception. No deaths were reported.

Brent crude oil jumped back above $100 a barrel on Tuesday, a day after plunging more than 10 percent in reaction to Trump's decision to delay fresh strikes on Iran as he hailed "very good" talks with Tehran.

Brent rose 2.9 percent to $102.84, while West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.5 percent to $91.20.

Day 26

Iran was reported on Wednesday, March 25, to have told International Maritime Organization member states that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities.

US President Donald Trump was quoted as saying that the US was making progress in its efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Iran, including winning an important concession from Tehran, while a source confirmed that Washington had sent Iran a 15-point settlement proposal.

Oil prices, which have risen sharply since the US-Israeli war on Iran began, eased slightly on Wednesday, March 25, with Brent crude futures down 4.1% at $100.25 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures down 3.7% at $88.91 a barrel.

This developed amid reports that the US is seeking a month-long ceasefire with Iran, even though Iran rejected the idea of negotiations. 

In the Philippines, the peso lost 15 centavos to close at P60.1:$1 a day after the government declared a state of national energy emergency to deal with the rising cost of fuel and ensure its supply. 

Day 27

On March 26, it was reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran did not plan to negotiate with the United States and intended to keep fighting, after the White House said talks were ongoing.

In Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had spoken to the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and other regional countries and said Malaysian vessels were now being allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Philippines, groups staged the first of a two-day transport strike amid the massive fuel price hikes, causing commuters to be stranded in parts of Metro Manila.

The government reported the arrival of 700,000 barrels of Russian oil even as representatives of oil companies told a Senate inquiry that they have only until April.

Myanmar is also feeling the effects of the Middle East conflict.

Myanmar's economy, battered by five years of civil war since a military coup in 2021, is reeling under a fresh blow from the Iran conflict, which has driven up global oil prices and made domestic supplies scarce.

The pump price of diesel in Myanmar stood at 3,800 kyat ($1.80) per liter by mid-March, up from 2,450 kyat ($1.16) in February. 

In Thailand, the surge in diesel prices triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran is pushing it's multibillion-dollar fishing industry towards a standstill, with fishermen warning that their boats could be idled within days unless the government steps in.

At the country's largest fishing port in a central province along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, over half of the fishing trawlers are already docked and those still operating would likely stop work within days, said Jumpol Kanawaree, president of the Samut Sakhon Fishmonger Association.

Day 28

On March 27, Donald Trump was reported to have said that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a "present" to show it was serious about negotiations to end the war.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that shipping "to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies" is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination.

In Dubai, 342 Filipino repatriates processed by the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) departed the city early Friday morning. Many of them will be seeking a fresh start back home as the country grapples with the impact of the Middle East conflict.

Trump also remarked that the US does not “have to be there for NATO” as he said he was upset that European NATO countries had declined to provide material support to the US as it nears the fourth week of its ongoing war on Iran.

European allies were not consulted by the US on its decision to attack Iran late last month, and many leaders in the alliance opposed the action.

Meanwhile, 12 US troops were wounded during an Iranian military strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, bringing the number of US military service members wounded in the conflict to more than 300.

Day 29

On March 28, Israel said it detected a missile fired from Yemen, the first since the Iran war began.

Hours earlier, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they were prepared to act if what the group called an escalation against Iran and the “axis of resistance” continued, but did not say what form any intervention would take.

In the Philippines, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered directed distribution utilities (DUs) experiencing a significant increase in generation costs due to the fuel price shock resulting from the Middle East war to submit detailed reports to enable timely regulatory intervention and consumer protection.

The ERC said its directive specifically applies to DUs with an increase in their blended generation rate of more than P1 per kilowatt-hour compared to the previous supply month.

Day 30

On March 29, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is expecting to conclude its military operations in the Middle East even as a new deployment of US Marines started arriving in the region.

This is as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict. The Houthis said they would continue their operations until “aggression” on all fronts have ended.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran.

In response, Iran said it is ready to respond to a US ground attack and accused Washington of preparing a land assault while seeking negotiations to end the fighting.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)’s Seafarer Support team said it is overwhelmed with messages from crews stuck in the Gulf by the Middle East war, desperately seeking repatriation, compensation and onboard supplies.

Also on Sunday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the government is expecting the arrival of the first batch of 1.04 million barrels of diesel to arrive this week, which he said is the result of the “oil diplomacy” conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Recto added that Indonesia also gave an “ironclad guarantee of a steady supply of coal.”

For its part, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said airports under its supervision have enough reserve diesel in case of power interruptions. Diesel is used to power generator sets that are used as back-up electricity sources in airports.

The sixth chartered repatriation flight arranged by the government also arrived in Manila on Sunday, bringing home 338 distressed Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates.

Day 31

On March 30, Iran described US proposals to end a month of war in the Middle East as "unrealistic, illogical, and excessive" and unleashed more missiles on Israel.

Brent crude oil rose 3% on Monday and was on track for a record monthly rise while global stocks were in limbo as investors dug in for a Gulf conflict they fear will bring a spike in inflation and the risk of recession to much of the globe.

In the Philippines, oil companies announced increases of up to P2.90 per liter in gasoline prices and as much as P12.90 per liter in diesel prices.

The peso slid to a new record low of P60.69 versus the US dollar. 

Day 32

On March 31, Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded oil tanker off Dubai, and US President Donald Trump told countries that had not helped in the conflict to find "some delayed courage" to take the Strait of Hormuz and get their own oil.

The global price of oil continued to rise as Brent crude futures were up nearly 5% on the day at $118.38 a barrel, on track for their biggest monthly gain on record.

In the Philippines, fuel companies announced double-digit increases in the respective prices of their LPG, from P17 to P20 per kilo. Department of Energy figures showed the price per liter of diesel went up by up to P63.31 since the start of the Middle East conflict; gasoline by up to P41.40, and kerosene by P68.93.

The peso, on the other hand, hit a new record low P60.748 against the US dollar–the eighth all-time low since the conflict started when US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

Day 33

On April 1, an oil tanker leased to state-owned QatarEnergy was hit by an Iranian cruise missile in Qatari waters.

Qatar was targeted by three cruise missiles coming from Iran; two were intercepted while the third hit the Aqua 1 fuel oil tanker, but caused no casualties.

In the Philippines, the government asked Iran to designate it as a “non-hostile country” and ensure the safe passage of Philippine-flagged vessels along the Strait of Hormuz amid the tensions in the Middle East. 

Day 34

On April 2, Israel said it came under Iranian missile fire after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the Islamic Republic into the "Stone Ages" with heavy strikes in the next two to three weeks.

The front-month Brent contract for June LCOc1 jumped about 5% to $106.16 per barrel after investors found little reassurance in Trump’s speech, which failed to spell out when or how the Strait of Hormuz - a critical fuel shipping route - would reopen to ease supply disruptions hitting Asia hard.

In the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced that Iran, in a phone conversation between Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi, assured that Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers would be allowed safe passage through the strait. 

Day 35

On April 3, a container ship belonging to French shipping group CMA CGM was reported to have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data shows, in a sign that Iran may not consider France a hostile nation.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on Friday said food prices climbed in March to their highest level since September 2025 and could rise further if the Middle East conflict that pushed up energy prices continues.

In the Philippines, an industry source said the massive fuel price hikes due to the Middle East conflict are expected to continue next week. 

Based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) trading in the past four days (March 30 to April 2), retail diesel prices could increase by P17 to P19 per liter. These projections could push the price of regular diesel to as much as P165 and premium diesel past P170 per liter.

Gasoline prices, on the other hand, are expected to increase by P3 to P5 per liter, potentially bringing the prices of its super premium, premium, and regular varieties to about P120, P117, and P110 per liter, respectively. 

Day 36

On April 4, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hinted at the possibility of peace negotiations with the United States through Pakistan's mediation, while US President Donald Trump repeated his threats to intensify attacks on Iran if it failed to reach a deal or open the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.

Meanwhile, Iranian forces were hunting for a missing US pilot on Saturday from one of two warplanes downed over Iran and the Gulf.

Iranian state media also reported air strikes at a petrochemical zone in southwestern Iran, with five people reported injured so far.

A projectile also hit an auxiliary building near the perimeter of Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, the Tasnim news agency said, killing one person. The operations of the plant were unaffected.

In the Philippines, Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Iran's decision to allow energy supplies headed for the Philippines to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz was part of the government's risk management initiatives and would not immediately bring down domestic fuel prices.

Garin said "a safe and preferential access" to the Strait of Hormuz would reduce the risk of oil supply disruptions, strengthen protection for Philippine-linked cargo, and improve the safety considerations for Filipino seafarers amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. 

"We also want to manage expectations: This development will not immediately bring down fuel prices, nor does it resolve our long-term structural challenges in energy. Those remain priorities that we continue to address," she added.

On Saturday, 67 overseas Filipinos from Qatar arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 as part of the government's efforts to repatriate distressed Filipinos amid the conflict.

Day 37

On April 5, US President Donald Trump, in an expletive-laden social media post, said the United States will target Iran’s power plants and bridges on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

In the Philippines, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) warned the public against spreading fake news about energy security, supply, or pricing amid the soaring fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said any attempt “to mislead the public about energy security, supply, or pricing to sow confusion will be treated as a serious offense” and that the PCO’s filing of charges will be in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Gomez said publishing fake news can lead to six months of imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code and that if done online, the penalty is doubled under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Day 38

On April 6, Iran said it wanted a lasting end to the war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefire as the Americans and the Iranians weighed a framework plan to cease their five-week-old conflict.

Iran conveyed its response to the US proposal for ending the war to Pakistan, rejecting a ceasefire and emphasizing the necessity of a permanent end to the war, the official IRNA news agency said on Monday.

Donald Trump, who has threatened to rain "hell" on Tehran if it did not make a deal by 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday (midnight GMT) to open the vital route for global energy supplies, rejected the Iranian proposal on Monday and said his deadline was final.

Oil prices fell in choppy trade, as investors awaited clarity on the status of talks between the US and Iran and remained wary about sustained supply losses due to shipping disruptions.

Brent crude futures inched 36 cents lower, or 0.33%, to $108.67 a barrel at 1222 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were trading down 0.86%, or 96 cents, at $110.58 per barrel.

In the Philippines, fuel companies announced another round of increases in the price per liter of gasoline (up to P5.90), diesel (up to P19.80), and kerosene (up to P9.10).

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also reported the safe return of 27 overseas Filipinos – 20 from Qatar and seven from Lebanon – to Manila on Monday.

Day 39

On April 7, Iran said critical infrastructure, including two bridges, was struck on Tuesday by the United States and Israel, with US President Donald Trump warning "a whole civilization will die" if a midnight deadline for a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz was not met.

Oil prices edged above $110 per barrel as the looming deadline imposed by Trump for a deal with Iran threatened escalation in the Middle East and spooked investors.

In the Philippines, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said Filipinos should brace for a prolonged period of high fuel prices despite the possible end to the Middle East conflict, tax cuts, and government interventions. 

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said some Philippine-flagged ships are already on the Strait of Hormuz after Iran assured the Philippines of safe passage for vessels, people, and goods bound for the country.

Day 40

On April 8, US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Trump’s announcement on Truth Social was an abrupt turnaround from his previous extraordinary warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if his demands were not met.

“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!... The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” he said.

Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran’s agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said Tehran would stop counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway.

Trump later told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the United States won a “total and complete victory” after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

He believed that China had persuaded Iran to negotiate and assured that Tehran’s enriched uranium would be “perfectly taken care of.”

Trump added that the US will help with the buildup of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and “just ‘hangin’ around” to make sure that everything goes well.

Following the declaration of the ceasefire, US and European energy stocks slid on Wednesday with oil falling $100 per barrel.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will take advantage of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran and increase the country’s petroleum supply.

He also expressed hope that the ceasefire will extend further if the talks go well.

However, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin told House members that the country cannot simply keep buying large volumes of oil to build up its reserves because it has a limited storage capacity.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) gave the go-signal to universities and colleges to shift to full online classes for the rest of the academic year in light of the fuel crisis brought about by the Middle East conflict.

Day 41

On April 9, share markets sagged as cracks quickly began to appear in the fragile truce in the Middle East, nudging oil prices back up toward $100 a barrel and reminding investors that the inflationary fallout would last a long while yet.

This developed after Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out in March, even as the Iran-aligned group paused attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon under a two-week US-Iran ceasefire.

In the Philippines, an oil industry source said motorists may expect a rollback in the price of fuel after Mean of Platts Singapore prices and premiums “softened due to the ceasefire deal in the Middle East.” 

The estimated reductions in pump prices are P2.50 to P3.40 per liter of diesel, and P1.00 per liter of gasoline.

Day 42

On April 10, it was reported that US President Donald Trump warned Tehran not to charge tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, as a mounting global energy crisis prompted Japan to announce a further emergency oil release.

The Iran war has damaged Gulf energy production, stranded tanker traffic, and boosted oil prices by about 50% in the world's worst energy shock, with Asian buyers among the hardest hit.

In the Philippines, public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and private motorists find the expected fuel price rollback next “too small” after weeks of massive increases.

While no final amount has been provided yet, oil industry sources claim that reductions may be around P5.50 to P6.40 per liter of diesel and up to P1 per liter of gasoline.

Day 43

Senior US and Iranian leaders met in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, for negotiations to end their six-week-old war. A Pakistani source told Reuters that it was too early to say whether talks would end on Saturday, adding there was no time limit for negotiations.

In the Philippines, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced the arrival of over 300,000 barrels of diesel from Malaysia to boost the country’s stockpile of fuel amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Citing the results of the April 6–10, 2026 Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) trading and foreign exchange averages, an oil industry source projected that diesel and gasoline prices might drop by up to P10.80 and P1.50, respectively, next week.

Day 44

On April 12, the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement to end their war despite marathon talks that concluded on Sunday in Islamabad in Pakistan, jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire.

US Vice President JD Vance, the head of the US delegation, told reporters that the failure to reach an agreement is “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news” for the US.

While world figures urged the US and Iran to keep negotiating after the talks ended without a deal to end the Middle East conflict, US President Donald Trump said the US Navy would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US would interdict every vessel in international waters that paid a toll to Iran, and begin destroying mines that he said the Iranians dropped in the strait.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the Department of Energy (DOE) said the price of diesel may decrease by P20.89 per liter while gasoline prices may slide down to P4.43 per liter and kerosene, P8.50 per liter this week.

In a Facebook post, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the estimated price adjustments are for April 14 (Tuesday) to April 20 (Monday).

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the big rollback in pump prices in a video message later on Sunday afternoon. 

Day 45

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said pump prices may remain high through November’s midterm elections, a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from his decision to attack Iran six weeks ago. The average price for regular gas at US service stations has exceeded $4 per gallon for most of April.

Following Trump’s move to immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

However, the US’ NATO allies – including Britain and France – on Monday, April 13 said they would not get involved in Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

NATO allies said it is vital to open the waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil usually passes, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Philippine-flagged vessels are assured of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz despite Trump’s threat of a blockade following the failed peace talks in Pakistan.

DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the agreement between the Philippines and Iran remains the same.

On the other hand, Philippine financial markets opened the week on a negative note amid the developments in the Middle East, with the Philippine peso depreciated back to the P60:$1 level, shedding 16.5 centavos to close at P60.135:$1 from last Friday’s finish of P59.97:$1.

On Monday afternoon, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that he has removed the excise taxes on LPG and kerosene amid high fuel prices in the country, exercising the emergency powers on fuel excise taxes granted to him under Republic Act 12316.

Marcos said will reduce the price of LPG by P3.36 per kilo or almost P37 per tank, and P5 per liter for kerosene products.

As to calls to remove the value-added tax on fuel products, Marcos said this move would only help the petroleum market, but said he will study the proposal. 

Day 46

On April 14, a Chinese tanker sanctioned by the United States passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite a US blockade on the chokepoint, shipping data showed.

In the Philippines, the Department of Energy on Tuesday said the government is seeking another window or extension of a sanctions waiver from the United States to allow continued oil imports from Russia, even as alternative suppliers are available should the request be denied.

Day 47 

On April 15, finance ministers from almost a dozen countries, led by Britain, called on the United States, Israel, and Iran to implement their ceasefire in full, adding that the Middle East conflict would weigh on the global economy and markets even if it was resolved soon.

A joint statement, signed by ministers from Australia, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Norway, Ireland, Poland, and New Zealand, as well as Britain, was agreed upon a day after the International Monetary Fund cut its global economic growth forecasts because of the war.

In the Philippines, some transport groups took part in the first of a three-day transport strike, and called for a price rollback of P55 per liter of diesel amid the oil price shocks caused by the conflict.

Day 49

On April 17, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi was reported as saying that the Strait of Hormuz was open following a ceasefire accord agreed in Lebanon, while US President Donald Trump said he believed a deal to end the Iran war would come "soon", although the timing remains unclear.

Aragchi said in a post on X that the Strait was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the US-brokered 10-day truce between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed between Israel and Lebanon.

In the Philippines, an oil industry source said consumers and motorists should expect another hefty rollback in fuel prices in the coming week.

The estimated reductions in the retail prices of petroleum products are as follows:

    Diesel - P17.00 to P19.00 per liter
    Gasoline - P2.00 to P3.00 per liter

Day 50

Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday after US President Donald Trump insisted that a US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a deal was concluded.

Nevertheless, Trump appeared convinced that a deal could be finished soon. 

In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged oil companies to implement the rollback for both diesel and gasoline prices in full and without delay.

Marcos stated in a video message that diesel prices are projected to decrease by P24.94 per liter next week, while gasoline prices are expected to drop by P3.41 per liter. The cost of kerosene is expected to fall by P2.00 per liter.

Day 51

On April 19, Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said recent talks with the United States had made progress, but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump, for his part, cited “very good conversations” with Tehran despite warning against “blackmail” over the key shipping channel.

Later in the day, however, Trump accused Iran of “total violation” of the two countries’ ceasefire for firing on ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on social media, he renewed a threat to wipe out Iran’s bridges and power plants unless it accepted his terms.

Trump said his envoys would arrive in Pakistan on Monday evening to hold more talks.

“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he posted on social media. “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”

—Reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and GMA News