US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Iran to agree to terms on a nuclear deal, or the United States would continue increasing economic pressure by extending the naval blockade of its ports, thereby squeezing Tehran’s oil exports.
Trump reiterated that there would “never be a deal” with Iran if it continues pursuing nuclear weapons, while Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
As Trump and his national security team discuss Iran’s latest proposal, under which Tehran has suggested reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade first while postponing nuclear negotiations, the standoff continues.
Trump’s decision to continue the blockade has pushed Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, past USD 125 a barrel early Thursday.
He defended the strategy, saying the blockade could be more effective than direct military action. He also urged Iran to act quickly, noting that officials are exploring ways to sustain the blockade for months if necessary.
US policymakers believe prolonged restrictions could eventually force Iran to halt oil production, particularly once key facilities such as Kharg Island reach capacity.
With the conflict stretching into its tenth week, far exceeding earlier expectations of a resolution within four to six weeks, each day the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted removes nearly 20 million barrels of oil from global supply.
As Washington prepares for a longer blockade, Asian economies are bracing for deeper fallout. Many countries in the region depend heavily on energy shipments passing through the strait, and shortages are already affecting supplies of crude oil, natural gas, plastics, and fertilizers.
Pakistan’s role as a mediator has failed to bring Iran and the US together for a second round of talks. Trump said that Iran can call if it wants to negotiate.
He stated: “I don’t know. It depends. We are having talks with them now, and we’re not making 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper. We’re doing it telephonically, and it’s very nice.”
Trump views the blockade as “somewhat more effective than bombing,” according to Axios.
Axios also cited sources saying that the US Central Command is preparing a “short and powerful” wave of strikes against Iran aimed at breaking the deadlock in negotiations. However, the sources added that Trump had not ordered any attacks as of Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Iran has pledged to continue disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as long as it feels threatened, implying further disruptions to West Asia’s oil supply.
An Iranian representative to the UN termed the US blockade “maritime piracy and banditry,” warning that it would be met with “practical and unprecedented” action. Iranian forces, however, have shown restraint so far in order to “give diplomacy a chance.”
