Newspaper: Trump Considers Limited Military Strikes against Iran

SadaNews: The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials and informed sources, that U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers are considering resuming limited military strikes on Iran as a means to break the deadlock in peace talks.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying that Trump and his advisers "are considering limited strikes within Iran alongside a maritime blockade to break the impasse in negotiations."

The newspaper pointed out that the option of resuming a comprehensive bombing campaign against Iran "is the least likely for Trump."

The U.S. Central Command "CENTCOM" announced on Monday that it will begin implementing a ban on maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports.

CENTCOM stated in a statement that the implementation of the ban will begin on Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, in accordance with the announcement made by President Trump.

The statement added: "This ban will be applied neutrally to vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports, and U.S. Central Command forces will not impede the freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on their way to and from non-Iranian ports."

The statement continued: "Commercial vessel crews will be provided with additional information through an official notice prior to the ban coming into effect."

The statement concluded by saying: "All mariners are advised to monitor Notices to Mariners and to contact U.S. naval forces via the direct communication channel with the command towers at number 16, when operating in the Oman Gulf area and approaching the Strait of Hormuz."

Trump stated on Sunday that the U.S. Navy will begin enforcing a blockade on Iran by controlling the entry and exit of ships from the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Effective immediately, the U.S. Navy, the best in the world, will commence a blockade on any and all ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach a situation that allows everyone in and everyone out, but Iran is not allowing that to happen just by saying: there may be mines somewhere, that no one knows about but themselves."

Trump emphasized that: "This is global extortion, and the leaders of countries, especially the United States, will never succumb to extortion. I have also instructed the Navy to seek out every ship in international waters and intercept it if it has paid transit fees to Iran. No party that pays illegal fees will have safe passage on the high seas."

Trump also confirmed: "We will begin destroying the mines planted by Iran in the strait. Any Iranian who fires on us or peaceful ships will be totally destroyed."

Trump explained: "The blockade will begin soon, and other countries will participate in it. Iran will not be allowed to benefit from this illegal act of extortion. They want money, and more importantly, they want nuclear weapons."

He stressed that "we are in a state of full readiness, and our military forces will finish what remains of Iran."

Trump wrote: "Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, but deliberately failed to do so. This has caused concern, disruption, and suffering for many people and countries around the world. They say they have planted mines in the waters, although their entire naval fleet and most of their mine-laying capabilities have been completely destroyed. Perhaps they did do that, but which ship owner would risk and gamble?"

He considered that "there is significant harm and a permanent stain on Iran's reputation and that of the remaining leaders, but we have moved beyond all that. As I promised, they must immediately begin the process of opening this international waterway quickly! They are violating all the laws."