President Donald Trump has announced that U.S. negotiators will return to Pakistan for talks with Iran, despite hopes of extending a ceasefire set to expire this week. This comes as Iran and the United States remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, where ships are unable to transit the critical waterway due to threats from Iran and a US. blockade. Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf stated that they remained open to negotiation, but the US. blockade remains in effect. Despite this, Iran has vowed to continue enforcing its restrictions in the strait. The situation threatens to escalate into a war that has killed at least 3,290 people in Iran and 23 in Israel.