Washington, August 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has instructed his top administration envoys to halt talks with Iran, according to a CNN report citing a US official, as Washington shifts towards sustained economic pressure on Tehran.
Trump directed his negotiating team, including Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, not to engage with Tehran despite what US officials described as some “positive discussions”, the report said.
The reported shift comes amid Trump’s dissatisfaction with Iran’s reluctance to accept the terms he considers necessary for a broader agreement. According to CNN, the administration is now considering a longer-term strategy aimed at economically pressuring Iran rather than immediately pursuing further military strikes.
Trump had earlier said on social media that there were “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled” with Iran. He also said the US naval blockade remained in force and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was “open and operating”, with all water mines removed or detonated. Reuters reported that shipping through the strategic waterway remained severely disrupted.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also signalled tougher financial measures against Tehran, saying Washington would impose measures that had “never been seen”. The administration has been targeting Iranian bank accounts, crypto wallets and overseas assets as part of its pressure campaign.
The latest development follows the collapse of a 60-day negotiating period established under a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. The deadline expired on Monday without agreement on key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz and the broader terms for ending the conflict.
The United States and Iran remain sharply divided over the future of the strategic waterway, which is a major route for global oil and gas shipments. Tehran has maintained that the Strait will remain closed until its conditions are met, while Washington has insisted on its own terms for reopening the route.
The reported suspension of diplomatic contacts leaves the future of US-Iran negotiations uncertain, with tensions continuing to mount over the conflict, sanctions and maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz.
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