President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered a US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in reaction to Iran’s “unyielding” unwillingness to abandon its nuclear goals during peace negotiations in Islamabad.
While recognizing that the marathon talks in Pakistan had gone “well” and that “most points were agreed to,” Trump stated that Tehran had refused to surrender on the question of its nuclear program.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
US Vice President JD Vance departed Pakistan without reaching an agreement following weekend negotiations with a team led by Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the highest-level encounter between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Tehran’s group also featured Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” Vance told reporters.
In two lengthy postings on Truth Social, Trump lambasted Iran for pledging to open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s crude oil travels, but “knowingly” failing to deliver.
“They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their navy and most of their ‘mine droppers’ have been completely blown up. They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance?” Trump said.
Iran had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz for weeks after the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign against the Islamic republic more than six weeks ago.
On Saturday, the US military reported that two US warships had entered the strait to begin a mine removal operation.
