There is both hope and uncertainty in the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has expanded across the Gulf and triggered wider global economic concerns including India. While the two-week ceasefire has offered a brief pause in hostilities, its scheduled end later this month has once again raised fears of renewed escalation. The fragile truce has also been overshadowed by sharp and increasingly hostile exchanges from both sides through media statements and social media posts. Reports of fresh US warnings to Iran have further deepened concerns, adding to fears that the region could slip back into a dangerous cycle of confrontation.

Earlier US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after talks in Islamabad between a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials ended without a breakthrough to stop the war that began on February 28 with deadly US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," US Central Command said, adding it would begin at 1400 GMT on Monday.In a social media post, Trump said the bulk of Iran's navy had already been destroyed during the war, but that if any of what he said were Tehran's few remaining "fast attack ships" approach the blockade "they will be immediately ELIMINATED".US forces would not impede vessels transiting the strait to and from non-Iranian ports, it added.

According to media reports Iran had already closed the strait to what it regards as enemy shipping, allowing only vessels serving countries it deems friendly - such as China - to cross.Oil prices, which had tumbled with the truce, jumped around eight percent Monday amid fears the renewed standoff would block more tankers

The US leader's latest change of tack left some observers perplexed."Presumably, Trump's intent is to try to starve Iran of export revenue and compel Iran's main oil customers, particularly China, to pressure Tehran to end its blockage of the strait," sources claimed.

Meanwhile some media report suggested on Tuesday that there may still be hope for diplomacy. It claimed that the United States and Iran are actively discussing another round of face-to-face talks to secure a longer-term ceasefire and prevent fresh hostilities after recent negotiations ended without a deal. The proposal under discussion focuses on scheduling a follow-up meeting before the current temporary ceasefire — brokered earlier in April — expires later this month. Both sides have signalled they want to keep diplomatic channels open even after the latest round failed to produce a comprehensive agreement, claimed report.