Iran to skip talks 2.0, 20+ ships cleared Hormuz

Amid tension between the US and Iran, more than 20 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the highest number of ships crossing the waterway since March 1, according to data from shipping analytics firm Kpler. The transit suggests some continued commercial traffic through the strategic passage despite heightened tensions in the region. Among the vessels that crossed on Saturday, five had last loaded cargoes in Iran, carrying products ranging from oil derivatives to metals. Three of those ships were liquefied petroleum gas carriers, with one bound for China and another for India, the data showed.
Iran vowed retaliation after a US destroyer fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, as it was attempting to evade a US naval blockade. Tehran condemned the incident as “armed piracy” and warned its forces would respond soon. Meanwhile,Iran has reportedly rejected participation in the second round of talks with the US, and is also miffed with the country's “unrealistic” demands and the decision to continue with the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The state IRNA news agency has said that Iran has rejected taking part in the second round of talks.The fate of the upcoming talks remains unclear as some reports also said that Iran is yet to decide if it would send negotiators for the talks.