Iran standing firm.

"US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 am ET," and "The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman." centcom.mil. On 14 April, "A US destroyer interdicted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran,..a day after President Donald Trump's blockade went into effect, and instructed them to turn around, a US official said." Reuters. "The Rich Starry, a sanctioned Chinese oil and chemical tanker, masked its exact location in the Persian Gulf for more than 10 days," but "When it emerged into the Gulf of Oman - near where the US Navy is operating to enforce its blockade of Iranian ports - the tanker made an about U-turn." "Early signs are that after years of dodging sanctions, the Iranian shadow fleet may have met its match in the US naval blockade - its ships now appear unable to leave the Persian Gulf." WSJ. "The US and Israel hit at least 17,000 targets over five weeks of war, including factories; rail, road and port infrastructure; government buildings; and military facilities. Iranian state media put the cost of rebuilding at $270 billion." The US blockade will cost an estimated "$435 million per day, including $276 million in lost exports." And, "As many as 12 million jobs, nearly half of Iran's workforce, are at risk from furloughs and layoffs." WSJ. Given this appalling state of the economy and the prospect of real hardship, even starvation, among its people, Iran would be expected to be eager to negotiate with the US. Instead, Iran is refusing to talk unless its conditions are met. "Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not enter into negotiations under pressure, threats and siege, Mehr News Agency reported." Gulf News. "The prospect of direct US-Iran talks remains uncertain as the Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed from Pakistan after holding discussions with Pakistan's leadership." "He also delivered Iran's list of demands and reservations for ending the US-Israeli war." News18. What is the reason for Iran's resistance? The regime wants to ensure its own survival regardless of the people's suffering. "As many as 30,000 people could have been killed in the streets of Iran on Jan. 8 and 9 alone, two senior officials of the country's Ministry of Health told Time." If people starve, or die of lack of food or medicines, they will just blame the Americans and Israelis. Also, they are probably hoping that Trump will be weakened by the vicious hostility of the majority of the US media. "Both CNN and The New York Times disseminated a fake ten-point plan they claimed was from Iran - with CNN going even so far as pushing the narrative that the Iranian regime was victorious and had 'forced' the US to accept its terms." The White House. The media blame Trump for being against free speech. "Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has waged an aggressive campaign against the media unlike any in modern US history." PBS. Probably because Media Research Center found 92% of negative coverage of Trump in his first hundred days in 2025. But the report is inaccessible on every site. Is Google censoring the truth about media bias? Iran must not be allowed to hold the world to ransom. The US must win.