Donald Trump threatened on Monday to “destroy” any “fast attack vessel” from Iran violating the blockade of Iranian ports, now in effect, following the failure of talks between the two countries.
Denouncing an “illegal act” of “piracy,” Iran warned that it would target the ports of its Gulf neighbors if “the security of the ports of the Islamic Republic (…) was threatened.”
The U.S. military announced that the blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal zones would come into effect at 14:00 GMT, without providing details.
“If any of these ships even approaches our BLOCKADE, it will be immediately DESTROYED,” clarified President Trump on his Truth Social platform, who then stated that Iranian leaders would want to conclude an agreement “at any cost.”
The announcement of a blockade caused oil prices to spike again and plunged global markets into uncertainty.
“It can be assumed that Trump’s intention is to try to deprive Iran of its export revenue and to pressure its major oil importers, particularly China, to exert pressure on Tehran to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,” analyzed the American think tank Soufan Center.
“Bargaining”
Since the start of the war triggered on February 28 by an Israeli-American offensive, Iran has locked the strait and imposed passage rights that it intends to maintain.
Mr. Trump claimed that 34 ships passed through Ormuz on Sunday, “by far the highest number since the start of this irrational closure.”
China, heavily dependent on Iran for its oil supply, called for the restoration of “unhindered” navigation in this strategic passage for global trade, especially of hydrocarbons.
Qatar called for not using maritime routes as a means of “bargaining,” while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged “all parties” to respect freedom of navigation.
<p"We must remember that about 20,000 sailors are caught in this conflict, stranded on boats with increasing difficulties every day," noted his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unsurprisingly supported the American blockade, London declared its non-support and Madrid deemed it “senseless.”
“From a commercial point of view, this does not really relieve our pain,” said Nils Haupt, AFP’s director of communications for the large German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd. “Our top priority is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a free trade to and from the Gulf.”
“Top Priority”
The inability of Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement during talks in Pakistan is worrying after over a month of a war that has claimed more than 6,000 lives, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.
According to Islamabad, efforts are ongoing to resolve outstanding issues and the ceasefire, expiring on April 22, “still holds.”
Its continuation is a “top priority,” stated Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.
But neither the United States nor Iran have indicated their intentions, shifting blame for the failure of discussions onto each other.
Donald Trump attributed it to the Iranians’ refusal to give up their nuclear weapon ambition, a claim that Tehran denies.
According to Iran, an agreement was close, but “unfortunately, we have been faced with continuously excessive demands from the American side,” stated Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Fayçal ben Farhane.
Mr. Netanyahu asserted that the breakdown came from the American side because of the “lack of immediate opening of the strait” of Hormuz. However, the “central issue” for Donald Trump is the nuclear issue, he added.
“Israeli Encirclement”
On the Lebanese front, Israel continues its campaign against the Hezbollah ally of Tehran, claiming that the neighboring country was not part of the ceasefire.
Lebanese authorities reported four deaths in the south, while the Israeli army said it had struck 150 Hezbollah targets in the last 24 hours.
It announced the “encirclement” of the town of Bint Jbeil, where it launched an assault, marking a significant advancement in its ground offensive in the south.
Hezbollah, on the other hand, claimed to have launched rockets at two Israeli towns near the border.
Talks are scheduled for Tuesday between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington, which Hezbollah likened to a “surrender,” demanding their cancellation.
