Trump Says U.S. Navy Will Blockade the Strait of Hormuz After Iran Talks Collapse

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a dramatic statement to the press today (Sunday) after talks in Pakistan between his envoys and the Iranian delegation hit a dead end.

In his statement, the American president said: "Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so. This has caused anxiety, disruption, and pain to many people and nations around the world. They claim that they laid mines in the waters, even though their entire navy, and most of their 'mine layers,' have been completely destroyed. Maybe they did it, but what shipowner would want to take the risk? There is severe and ongoing damage to Iran's reputation, and what's left of it."

"Their leaders, as they promised, need to begin the process of opening this international shipping lane—and fast! Every law in the book is being violated by them. I was fully briefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner about the meeting held in Islamabad. The meeting with Iran began early in the morning and went on through the night—close to 20 hours. I could go into a lot of detail and talk about much of what was achieved, but there is only one thing that matters—Iran is not willing to give up its nuclear ambitions!"

Trump added: "In many ways, the points agreed upon are preferable to continuing military operations to the end, but none of those points matters compared to the possibility that a nuclear force would be in the hands of people so volatile, tough, and unpredictable. My three representatives, throughout all this time, were not surprised to find that Iran's representatives—Mohammad-Baqer Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri—were very friendly and respectful, but it doesn't matter because they were uncompromising on the most important issue. As I have always said, from the beginning and many years ago—Iran will never have a nuclear weapon!"

"So here it is. The meeting went well, most points were agreed upon, but the only point that really mattered—the nuclear issue—was not. Immediately, the U.S. Navy will begin the process of a blockade of all ships and vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz. At some point we will get to a situation of 'everyone allowed in, everyone allowed out,' but Iran did not allow that to happen by saying, 'There may be a mine out there somewhere,' which only they know about."

"This is global extortion, and national leaders—and especially the United States—will never be extorted. I have also directed our Navy to locate and detain any vessel in international waters that has paid a fee to Iran. No one who pays an illegal fee will receive safe passage at sea. We will also begin to destroy the mines the Iranians have laid in the straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at civilian vessels, will be completely destroyed."

The American president concluded: "Iran knows better than anyone else how to end this situation that has already devastated their country. Their navy is gone, their air force is gone, their air-defense and radar systems are useless, Khomeini and most of their leaders are dead—all because of their nuclear ambition. The blockade will begin soon. More countries will be involved in it. Iran will not be allowed to profit from this illegal act of extortion. They want money, and more importantly—they want nuclear. In addition, and at the right time, we are fully 'locked and loaded,' and our military will finish what is left of Iran!"