China said on Tuesday that a US blockade around Iranian ports was "dangerous and irresponsible", after US President Donald Trump threatened to sink any boats that sought to leave or dock there.

China's President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that his country would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East, Chinese state media reported, after a first round of discussions between the United States and Iran ended without agreement

Iran slammed a US blockade around its ports on Monday as a "grave violation" of its sovereignty, as Washington and Tehran's belligerent rhetoric rattled a fragile truce.

US President Donald Trump warned Monday that any Iranian attack boats that approach the American naval blockade around Iran's ports would be destroyed, despite international calls for a ceasefire to be respected and negotiations to resume

The US military began a blockade of ships leaving Iran’s ports yesterday, President Donald Trump said, and Tehran threatened to retaliate against ports of its Gulf neighbours after weekend talks on ending the war broke down.

Iran has resumed rail services on key routes after repairing sections of track damaged during the war with Israel and the United States, state media said yesterday.

UK-French initiative appears to be separate from Trump's announced blockade

Conference aims to form “strictly defensive” multinational effort to restore freedom of navigation

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warns Israel could act as spoiler, flags nuclear dispute and Hormuz tensions as key hurdles

Here are details on the planned blockade and its implications for oil markets.

Brent crude futures gained $7.03, or 7.4 percent, to $102.23 a barrel by 0810 GMT

Both the Iranian and American delegations departed Pakistan without a deal

Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing officials and people familiar with the matter.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he does not care if Iran comes back to negotiations with the United States after talks in Pakistan failed to produce a deal.

President Donald Trump said yesterday the US Navy would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardising a fragile two-week ceasefire.

Any Iranian firing at American vessels will be 'blown to hell', he says

Iran's foreign ministry said no one had held any expectation that talks with the United States could have reached an agreement within one session after the negotiations in Islamabad stalled on Sunday.

Ishaq Dar insists US-Iran must uphold ceasefire agreement, after talks to end war in the Middle East ended without agreement

"Unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations," IRIB said on Telegram

The US and Iranian delegations have left Islamabad to return home, Pakistani sources told Reuters.