PARIS, France, April 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Trump orders blockade -

US President Donald Trump has ordered his navy block "any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz", after peace talks in Pakistan between American and Iranian delegations ended in failure.

He said on social media he has also ordered the US Navy to "interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas."

- Iran Guards' threat -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said after Trump's announcement that Iranian security forces had full control over the Strait of Hormuz and warned enemies would be trapped in a "deadly vortex" in case of any "wrong move".

- US team exits Islamabad -

The entire American negotiating team involved in the weekend talks with Iran has left Islamabad, a US official said, leaving no-one behind who could have pursued back-channel discussions towards a deal.

- Iran mistrust -

The top Iranian official in the Islamabad talks, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X that Washington was "unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations".

Iranian and US media said the main sticking points in the talks were the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's insistence on a right to enrich uranium.

- Lebanon deaths -

Lebanese official media reported extensive Israeli strikes across the country's south as the health ministry said at least five people were killed and the war's overall toll on that front rose to 2,055 dead.

Israel asserts that the Middle East ceasefire does not apply to its military operations in Lebanon targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

- Saudi summons -

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry summoned the ambassador of Iraq to deliver a formal complaint about attacks launched from that country, state media reported.

The diplomatic protest comes just days after a similar complaint was issued by the US.

- Trump threatens China -

Trump threatened 50 percent tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States if Beijing helps Iran militarily.

"If we catch them doing that, they get a 50 percent tariff, which is a staggering -- that's a staggering amount," Trump told Fox News.

- Ireland crisis -

Ireland's government has convened an emergency meeting to approve measure aimed at quelling protests over spiralling petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war.

- Kuwait arrests -

Kuwait arrested 24 people, including five former lawmakers, as part of a probe into the "financing of terrorist entities", authorities said.

Gulf states including Kuwait have, since Iran started attacking them, moved against individuals and organisations suspected of links to or supporting Tehran.

- Iran toll -

An Iranian official said 3,375 people in Iran have been killed in the war with the United States and Israel.

Abbas Masjedi, head of the judiciary's Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, said state media the toll included 2,875 males and 496 females, without specifying if they were adults or children.

Due to reporting restrictions, AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor to independently verify tolls in Iran.

- Ceasefire plea -

The foreign minister of Pakistan, which mediated the weekend round of talks, called for the two-week ceasefire that had been agreed by Washington and Tehran to be upheld.

His counterpart in Oman, which has mediated in the past, urged it be extended and a new round of talks be held.

- Putin mediation offer -

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that he was ready to help mediate the peace efforts, the Kremlin said.