Pakistan seeks more US-Iran talks as Strait of Hormuz blockade takes effect

Damage is visible on the facade of a residential building in Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

The stand-off between the United States and Iran has deepened as the US declared it had blockaded Iran’s ports, Tehran threatened to strike targets across the region and Pakistan said it was racing to bring the sides together for more talks.

Though last week’s ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the Strait of Hormuz risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the region-wide war’s economic fallout.