Report: Trump Chooses Prolonged Blockade on Iran Instead of Bombing or Withdrawal

SadaNews - US President Donald Trump has instructed his aides to prepare for a "prolonged blockade" on Iran in an attempt to force it into a "nuclear surrender" that it has long rejected, according to US officials speaking to the Wall Street Journal.

In recent meetings, including a discussion on Monday in the operations room with senior officials from his administration, Trump opted to continue pressuring the Iranian economy and oil exports through the blockade that prevents trade movement to and from its ports.

Officials explained that the American president viewed his other options, such as resuming bombing or withdrawing from the conflict, as carrying greater risks than maintaining the blockade.

However, maintaining the blockade prolongs a conflict that has led to rising fuel prices globally, decreased Trump’s popularity in polls, and darkened the prospects for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, as it has also resulted in the lowest rate of ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war.

Since the ceasefire agreement on April 7, Trump has repeatedly backed down from escalating the conflict, opening the door to diplomacy after previously threatening to "destroy the entire Iranian civilization," as he put it.

Yet he remains determined to tighten his grip on the Iranian regime until it complies with his main demand: the complete dismantling of its nuclear program.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump told his aides on Monday that Iran's three-step proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delay nuclear negotiations to the final stage proves that it is "not negotiating in good faith."

Trump now appears comfortable with the open-ended blockade option, which he wrote about on Tuesday on the Truth Social platform, claiming it is driving Iran towards a "state of collapse."

A senior US official stated that the blockade "is clearly crushing the Iranian economy, as Iran struggles to store its unsold oil, leading to a renewed effort to communicate with Washington."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that the United States has achieved its military objectives in the operation, and that "thanks to the successful blockade of Iranian ports, Washington enjoys maximum leverage over the Iranian regime during negotiations to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon."

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump is receiving conflicting advice regarding his next steps, as some officials and foreign allies, such as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, publicly urge the White House to continue pressuring Tehran, while others, including businesspeople close to Trump, fear that closing the Strait of Hormuz or another war would only harm the economy, potentially delivering a political knockout blow before the midterm elections scheduled for November.

Officials said that this advice was on the verge of persuading Trump to accept Iran's three-part proposal, which offered a possibility for de-escalation.

However, the president and his national security team agreed that doing so would strip Washington of some of its leverage in extracting "nuclear concessions" from Iran.

The White House has repeatedly affirmed that any agreement for a lasting peace with Iran must address the nuclear program, including setting timetables for restrictions on its activities.

Officials assert that Trump is not currently willing to relinquish his demand that Iran commit to suspending uranium enrichment for at least 20 years and accept restrictions thereafter.