The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Tehran to "get smart soon" and sign a deal. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says Tuesday's talks with oil executives followed a deadlock in efforts to resolve the conflict, which has led the United States to try to squeeze Iran's oil exports with a naval blockade aimed at forcing it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. While Washington and Tehran traded public threats, mediator Pakistan was trying to avoid escalation while the two sides continue to exchange messages on a potential deal. Mr. Trump has said Iran can call if it wants to talk and, in a post on Truth Social said Tehran "couldn't get its act together." Oil prices rose more than 6 per cent on Wednesday, with the Brent contract hitting a one-month high, on the prospect of a lengthy blockade. Mr. Trump released a mock-up image of himself as a gangster with sunglasses and wielding a machine gun captioned, "No more Mr. Nice Guy." Tehran warned on Wednesday of "unprecedented military action" against continued U.S. blockading of Iran-linked vessels. Mr. Trump has said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.