U.S. military begins blockading Iranian ports amid fragile ceasefire

WASHINGTON - The United States on Monday began a naval blockade of all maritime traffic attempting to enter or exit ports in Iran, raising the possibility that the two countries could be drawn into a new confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz and a temporary ceasefire could fall apart.

The blockade, confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump when he met the press before 1 p.m. in Washington, came after marathon high-level talks over the weekend between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough.