Trump escalates tensions, weighs Hormuz blockade after Iran talks fail
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Following the failure of negotiations with Iran, the US Navy starts a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. No vessel will be allowed to enter or leave the area, US President Donald Trump stated.
The US leader stated the talks with Iran allegedly "went well," but no agreement was reached due to Iran's refusal to abandon nuclear weapons. Therefore, the United States is announcing the start of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
"At some point, we will reach an 'All being allowed to go in, all being allowed to go out' basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, 'There may be a mine out there somewhere,' that nobody knows about but them," Trump said.
According to him, the US Navy command has been ordered to "seek and interdict" all vessels that pay Iran a "toll" for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
"No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be blown to hell. Iran knows, better than anyone, how to end this situation which has already devastated their country," the president emphasized.
Trump also said the blockade will begin "shortly" and that other countries will allegedly be involved in securing it. The United States will not allow Iran to earn money from ship passage or develop nuclear weapons.
"Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully 'locked and loaded,' and our military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!" Trump promised.
US–Iran talks: What we know
Recently, US Vice President JD Vance said that after talks with Iran in Pakistan, the parties still failed to reach an agreement to end the war. In particular, Tehran is not yet ready to abandon its nuclear program.
Trump said he does not care whether there is any agreement with Iran at all. He claims that, regardless of the outcome, the United States is allegedly winning and has already secured victories.
According to media reports, negotiations between the United States and Iran have stalled over control of the Strait of Hormuz: Tehran wants to retain control and opposes joint management, while the United States seeks to prevent such an outcome.
The most ironic is that before the talks, Trump claimed the strait would be opened regardless of whether there was a deal with Iran or not. Shortly afterward, he announced the process of unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.
