President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to destroy what remained of Iran.
The leader also declared that any Iranian who opens fire on American forces or other peaceful vessels will be executed. “BLOWN TO HELL”and the Navy will work to clear mines in the strait.
“THIS IS WORLD BLACKMAIL,” Trump wrote in one of the posts. “Leaders of countries, especially the United States of America, will never allow themselves to be blackmailed.”
The weekend talks, brokered by Pakistan, were aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming the flow of about one-fifth of the world's oil through the route.
The opening of the strait happened an economic necessity for Trumpwhose support has fallen amid soaring oil prices and growing concern about the war's impact on the world's already turbulent economy.
But the talks made no progress on an issue that Trump said made the rest of the discussion pointless.
“They have chosen not to accept our conditions,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Islamabad before leaving for Washington. — The simple truth is that we need a clear commitment that [Irańczycy] they will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and will not seek tools that would enable them to obtain them quickly.
A US official who asked not to be named says no member of the negotiating team remains in Islamabad.
American tactics
Meanwhile, Iran said the peace talks failed due to lack of trust. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X on Sunday that the United States “did not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation” during the peace talks. He added that “due to the experience of the two previous wars, we do not trust the opposing side.”
The announcement of the blockade, which Trump said would begin “soon,” also came a day after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that two U.S. destroyers had transited the strait as part of demining missions. It was the first such incident since fighting began six weeks ago. Iran recognized this as ceasefire violation and separately continued his plans to charge ships a $1 fee. (at the current exchange rate of PLN 3.6) per barrel of oil for safe passage through the strait.
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Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” that he would resume attacks on Iran unless the country abandons its nuclear weapons program. However, he also tried to present the meeting as productive. He said that the points agreed on by both countries were better than implementing plans to bomb Iran until the “Stone Age.”
Some of the president's allies already believe the blockade constitutes negotiation tactics — and not the end of the fragile two-week ceasefire the president announced last week.
“It's about who gives in first.”
“I think he is calling Iran's bluff” Nikki Haley, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, said on CNN's “State of the Union.” “It's a game of chickadee. It's about who caves first. The Iranian regime hopes that Trump will cave. Today he showed that this is not the case.”
Trump himself seemed to indicate this. He called his threat last week that “all civilization will perish” a bargaining chip aimed at forcing Iran to return to the negotiating table.
“They have not left the negotiating table. I predict they will come back and give us everything we want,” said the US president. “And I tell my people I want everything. I don't want 90 percent, I don't want 95 percent. I told them: 'I want everything'.”
Still, Trump acknowledged that the military operation in Iran had political costs — especially in terms of gasoline prices. He told Bartiromo that while he hoped gas prices would drop before the midterm elections, they could remain the same or even be “maybe a little bit higher.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
