Trump orders Hormuz blockade, vows to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons after failed talks
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will begin the process of blockading the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. and Iranian negotiators failed to reach an agreement in Islamabad over the weekend.
“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 declared, adding that other countries will be involved in the blockade.
Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner traveled to Pakistan’s capital city to engage in talks with Iran, which began Saturday morning and lasted 21 hours. The Iranian representatives included the Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi and Ali Bagheri.
Speaking from Islamabad, Vance announced that an agreement had not been reached, despite the extensive negotiations.
“We’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians–that’s the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said.
Both Vance and Trump said the Iranians declined to agree to the key point regarding nuclear weapons.
“I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters–IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday morning.
“In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people,” he continued.
Though most of the points were agreed upon, Trump said a nuclear concession was the only one that really mattered.
The talks in Islamabad followed the establishment of a ceasefire on Tuesday, intended to pause military hostilities following the advent of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign against Iran, on February 28th. That ceasefire was strained due to Israel’s strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, with Tehran insisting the agreement includes the Mediterranean country and the U.S. maintaining the deal is more limited.
The Strait of Hormuz has also been a major contention point, and the president has consistently called for its immediate opening and criticized Iran for its handling of it, including reports the Islamic Republic is charging tolls.
On Sunday, the president said he instructed the navy to “seek and interdict” vessels in international waters that have paid a toll to Iran.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said.
Trump labelled Iran’s claims that they have laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz that “nobody knows about but them” as extortion. He said the U.S. will begin to destroy the mines, and warned Iranians not to interfere.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Trump said.
The president also made it clear that renewed military operations against the Islamic Republic are on the table.
“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!”
Vance emphasized that he and his fellow negotiators went to the talks in “good faith,” and clearly enunciated what they were and were not willing to accommodate, but said ultimately Iran rejected the terms.
Describing the sticking point when it came to a commitment regarding nuclear weapons, Vance explained that although the present Iranian nuclear program and facilities were destroyed during Operation Epic Fury, this does not prevent efforts to develop a weapon in the future.
“The simple question is do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon,” he said. “Not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long-term. We haven’t seen that yet.”
The vice president said they are leaving the talks having given the Iranians their final and best offer.
“We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” he said without further comment.
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