Tensions between the United States and Iran persist as diplomacy remains stalled over nuclear and security disputes. Washington is maintaining restrictions on Iran's oil exports and shipping, with President Donald Trump saying the blockade will stay in place until a nuclear deal is reached.

Iran has warned it will respond to the blockade, with a senior security source saying any move could involve "practical and unprecedented" measures. Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is preparing to return home after a record-breaking deployment, signaling a potential adjustment in US military posture even as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain elevated.