<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The United States is escalating pressure on <span class="key-term" data-definition="President of the United States; head of the executive branch, responsible for foreign policy decisions (GS2: Polity)">Donald Trump</span> has instructed national‑security officials to prepare a prolonged <span class="key-term" data-definition="A naval blockade is the use of naval forces to prevent goods from entering or leaving a port, often used as a coercive tool in international conflicts (GS2: Polity)">blockade</span> of Iran’s ports. The aim is to force Tehran to halt its <span class="key-term" data-definition="Iran's nuclear programme aims to develop nuclear weapons; a central issue in South Asian security (GS1: History, GS2: Polity)">nuclear programme</span> and suspend <span class="key-term" data-definition="Uranium enrichment is the process of increasing the proportion of U‑235 isotope to make fuel for nuclear reactors or weapons (GS3: Economy, GS2: Polity)">uranium enrichment</span> for two decades.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>President <span class="key-term" data-definition="President of the United States; head of the executive branch, responsible for foreign policy decisions (GS2: Polity)">Trump</span> orders a long‑term blockade to compel Iran to accept a 20‑year suspension of enrichment and strict post‑suspension limits.</li>
<li><span class="key-term" data-definition="The United States Department of Defense’s top civilian official, responsible for policy, planning and budget (GS2: Polity)">Pete Hegseth</span>, US Defence Secretary, will be questioned by the <span class="key-term" data-definition="The House Armed Services Committee oversees defense policy, military spending and procurement (GS2: Polity)">House Armed Services Committee</span> on <strong>April 29, 2026</strong> regarding the administration’s 2027 defence budget.</li>
<li>The proposed 2027 budget seeks to raise defence outlays to a historic <strong>$1.5 trillion</strong>, emphasizing more <strong>drones</strong>, missile‑defence systems and warships, as advocated by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior military adviser to the President (GS2: Polity)">Gen. Dan Caine</span>.</li>
<li>Iran has warned that the US can no longer “dictate” policy to other nations, signalling heightened diplomatic tension.</li>
<li>Oil markets reacted: prices fell after the <span class="key-term" data-definition="The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel that coordinates oil production among member states (GS3: Economy)">UAE’s</span> surprise exit from <span class="key-term" data-definition="The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel that coordinates oil production among member states (GS3: Economy)">OPEC</span>, though supply concerns from the Iran standoff kept a floor under prices.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>• The blockade is intended to be “long” but no spec