BlockBeats News, May 9th. The United States and Iran remain deadlocked over ceasefire and negotiations. The New York Times reported that despite both the U.S. and Iran stating that the month-long ceasefire agreement is still holding, there have been multiple rounds of attacks between the two sides in the past week, with no breakthrough in negotiations.

The report stated that the U.S. recently attacked two Iranian oil tankers headed for an Iranian port; Iran, in turn, has continued to block the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has proposed various measures including lifting the port blockade, resuming navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and extending the ceasefire by 30 days, but the core disagreement in the negotiations remains the Iran nuclear restrictions.

Meanwhile, the UK has announced the deployment of a destroyer to the Middle East for a future escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz as a "pre-deployment," and France has already dispatched an aircraft carrier battle group to the Red Sea. The UK and France are pushing for the establishment of a "multinational joint escort mechanism."

Furthermore, satellite images have revealed a large area of suspected crude oil spill near Iran's Khark Island, with the pollution spreading over an area exceeding 20 square miles. Analysts believe that under the U.S. blockade and long-term high-pressure operation, Iran's oil infrastructure is facing significant risks.