00:02The U.S. military said its forces have completely halted economic trade, going into and out
00:08of Iran by sea, through its blockade, that has entered its second day.
00:12The commander of the U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper said an estimated 90 percent
00:18of Iran's economy is fueled by international trade by sea.
00:22The Central Command also said more than 10,000 sailors, marines, and airmen, along with over
00:28a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are carrying out the mission to blockade ships
00:33entering and departing Iranian ports.
00:35They said during the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the blockade, and six merchant
00:41vessels complied with direction from the forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port
00:46on the Gulf of Oman.
00:48They said the blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or
00:53departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian
00:58Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
01:00They stressed that at the same time, they support freedom of navigation for vessels transiting
01:05the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
01:09The U.S. had said Iran had failed to completely open the Strait of Hormuz, which was something
01:14that it promised to do in the two-week ceasefire for the U.S. and Israel war with Iran.
01:20U.S. President Donald Trump said 34 ships passed through the Strait within a day of the blockade,
01:27which was the highest number since the Iran closure of the waterway.
01:31After the failed negotiations in Pakistan last week, media reports said further talks could
01:36resume this week, something that the international community is hoping to end the war.
01:41I consider essential that these negotiations go on.
01:46I think it would be unrealistic to expect to such a complex problem, long-lasting problem,
01:53could be resolved in the first session of a negotiation.
01:56So we need negotiations to go on, and we need a ceasefire to persist as negotiations go on.
02:05The indication we have is that it is highly probable that these talks will restart.
02:11Thank you very much.
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