WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: Following the collapse of peace talks in Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, specifically targeting Iranian ports. The blockade, set to commence on Monday evening local time, aims to “seek and interdict” any vessels that have paid tolls to Iran to transit through the strategic waterway. Despite the high tensions, Trump maintained that the current ceasefire is “holding well” for now.
In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that a diplomatic agreement remains a possibility only if Washington fundamentally shifts its hostile approach toward Tehran. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the blockade plan, warning that the U.S. move would cause global fuel prices to skyrocket, making today’s rates look cheap in comparison. This escalating rhetoric has already triggered a sharp surge in global oil prices as markets react to the potential closure of the world’s most critical oil chokepoint.
President Trump further declared that the U.S. Navy would begin clearing the waterway of sea mines and issued a stern warning to Iranian forces. He asserted that any Iranian elements firing upon American troops or commercial shipping would be “BLOWN TO HELL.” This direct confrontation sets the stage for a risky showdown that could involve prolonged military struggle and compound the economic damage already caused by the regional conflict.
A senior Iranian lawmaker claimed on Monday that Tehran had initially agreed to dilute 450 kilograms of enriched uranium as a “goodwill measure” to salvage peace talks, but alleged that the United States later withdrew from the arrangement. This revelation comes as the regional crisis deepens following the collapse of the Islamabad summit. In a defiant move, the Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command announced on Monday that Iran intends to implement a permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz once the conflict ends.
While President Donald Trump remarked that the current ceasefire is “holding well,” the U.S. military is simultaneously preparing for a full naval blockade of Iranian ports. President Masoud Pezeshkian maintained that a deal is still reachable if Washington shifts its diplomatic stance. However, Iran’s chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, mocked the U.S. blockade strategy, warning that such actions would lead to a global energy crisis, making current fuel prices a thing of the past. (Iranintl)
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