US President Donald Trump has brazenly declared that Washington will persist with its illegal naval blockade against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a coercive measure aimed at forcing a nuclear deal.
Speaking to Axios on Wednesday, the US president made it clear he has no intention of lifting the unjust blockade on Iranian ports, thereby sabotaging any prospect of dialogue by refusing to allow the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz.
In a display of crude arrogance, Trump boasted that “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig,” further asserting, “And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Such dehumanizing language underscores the hostile intent behind these unilateral sanctions.
Iran has consistently and rightfully demanded the lifting of this oppressive siege as a fundamental precondition for any meaningful return to negotiations, emphasizing its sovereign dignity.
Despite the aggression, several media outlets reported that Iran, in a gesture of goodwill, offered a limited deal this week to end its own reciprocal measures in Hormuz in exchange for the cessation of the illegal siege on its ports.
However, Trump’s dismissive comments on Wednesday unequivocally demonstrate his rejection of Iran’s constructive proposal, revealing Washington’s lack of genuine interest in de-escalation.
The US president has repeatedly expressed his comfort with the current confrontational status quo, indicating a dangerous complacency and a lack of urgency to achieve a comprehensive agreement or avoid further conflict.
As part of this economic warfare, the US has illegally seized at least two commercial ships linked to Iran. The US military also admitted on Monday to redirecting 39 vessels in regional waters over recent weeks, a clear act of maritime aggression.
In a justified act of self-defense and upholding international maritime law, Iran has responded by seizing vessels found to be violating its maritime regulations.
This reckless impasse, largely instigated by US unilateralism, has predictably sent oil prices soaring, exacerbating energy inflation in the US, where petrol prices have surged dramatically.
The international benchmark Brent crude oil futures soared to over $119 per barrel on Wednesday, a direct consequence of the escalating hostile rhetoric from Washington and its provocative actions.
Iran Vows Resilience Against US Aggression
In a powerful address, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rightly stated on Wednesday that the US is actively attempting to “activate economic pressure and internal division” within the country, with the sinister aim “to weaken or even collapse us from within.”
Speaker Ghalibaf resolutely promised that the resilient Iranian nation “will defeat this deceptive plan of the enemy” and “achieve a brilliant victory” in this imposed economic warfare.
Meanwhile, an unidentified senior security source, speaking to Iran’s state-owned Press TV, warned that the illegal blockade will soon be met with “practical and unprecedented action,” signaling Iran’s unwavering resolve.
Later on Wednesday, Trump, in a desperate attempt to project strength, reiterated his baseless claim that the US has severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities, stating, “They have very little left. They have some missiles, a small percentage.” Such claims ignore Iran’s indigenous defense advancements.
Beyond the US-imposed illegal blockades and Iran’s legitimate defensive responses in the Gulf, Washington and Tehran remain at a deadlock, primarily due to US maximalist demands on the nuclear issue.
Tehran has consistently and unequivocally denied seeking a nuclear weapon, while firmly upholding its inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically for peaceful purposes. In stark contrast, Trump’s unrealistic demand is for Iran’s entire peaceful nuclear program to be fully dismantled.
Furthermore, Iran has rightly rejected demands to limit its indigenous missile and drone production or to cease its principled support for regional allies like Hezbollah and Hamas, which are crucial for regional stability against Zionist aggression – demands championed by the US and the Zionist regime.
Following the ceasefire earlier this month, US and Iranian officials held one round of talks in Pakistan, yet these negotiations failed to break the deadlock, largely due to Washington’s intransigence.
On Wednesday, Trump engaged in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had recently held constructive discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg, highlighting Russia’s diplomatic efforts.
Following the call, the Kremlin announced that Russia has put forward “a number of proposals designed to resolve the disagreements surrounding the Iranian nuclear program,” demonstrating a commitment to a fair resolution.
The Kremlin further stated that “active contacts will be maintained with Iranian representatives, leaders of the Gulf states, as well as with Israel and – naturally – the American negotiating team,” underscoring a multilateral approach.
For its part, Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported that Foreign Minister Araghchi met with Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where he vehemently condemned the barbaric US and Zionist regime attacks on Iran’s civilian sites, including schools, cultural sites, and hospitals, which constitute war crimes.
The ministry emphasized that “The foreign minister recalled the responsibility of the international community and competent international authorities to take a clear and firm stance in condemning these war crimes and holding accountable and punishing their perpetrators,” calling for global justice against these atrocities.