President Donald Trump has said the United States will maintain a naval blockade against Iran until a nuclear deal is reached.
The US president told Axios on Wednesday that he has no intention of lifting the Iranian port blockade, appearing to refuse to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to advance US-Iran negotiations.
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President Trump said of Iran: “A blockade is somewhat more effective than bombing. They’re suffocating like a stuffed pig.” “And it’s going to get even worse for them. They can’t have nuclear weapons.”
Iran has made lifting the siege a prerequisite for returning to talks.
According to multiple media reports, Iran this week offered a limited deal in which it would voluntarily lift the blockade of Hormuz Island in exchange for lifting the siege on the port.
President Trump’s comments on Wednesday signaled his rejection of Iran’s offer.
The US president has emphasized that he is satisfied with the status quo with Iran, suggesting he is in no hurry to pursue a comprehensive agreement or return to fighting.
At least two Iranian-linked merchant vessels were seized by the United States as part of the siege. The U.S. military said Monday that it had diverted 39 ships in area waters in the past few weeks.
Iran also responded by seizing ships it accused of violating maritime regulations.
The impasse caused oil prices to soar and fueled energy inflation in the United States, pushing the price of a gallon of gasoline from less than $3 ($0.79 per liter) before the war to more than $4.22 ($1.11 per liter).
International benchmark Brent crude oil futures soared to more than $119 a barrel on Wednesday as rhetoric from the U.S. and Iranian governments intensified.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that the United States was trying to “activate economic pressure and internal divisions” in the country “to weaken or destroy our country from within.”
He promised that Iranians would “defeat this deceitful plan of the enemy” and “achieve a glorious victory” in this war.
Separately, an unnamed senior security official told Iran’s state-run Press TV that “real and unprecedented action” would soon be taken against the blockade.
Later Wednesday, President Trump reiterated his claim that the United States has significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities. “They have very little left. They have some missiles, but the percentage is small,” he said.
Beyond the dueling Gulf blockade, the United States and Iran appear to be at an impasse over the nuclear issue.
The Iranian government denies developing nuclear weapons, but insists on the right to enrich uranium domestically. However, President Trump wants to completely dismantle the country’s nuclear program.
Iran also rules out limits on production of missiles and drones, or an end to support for regional allies like Hezbollah and Hamas, two key demands from Israel and the United States.
After reaching a cease-fire agreement earlier this month, U.S. and Iranian officials held one round of talks in Pakistan, but negotiations failed to break the stalemate.
On Wednesday, President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St. Petersburg two days earlier.
After the phone call, the Kremlin announced that Russia had submitted “a number of proposals to resolve differences over Iran’s nuclear program.”
“To this end, active contacts will be maintained with Iranian representatives, Gulf leaders, Israel and, of course, the US negotiating team,” it added.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Aragushi met with Mirjana Sporjaric, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and condemned US and Israeli attacks on civilian facilities such as schools, cultural institutions and hospitals.
“Foreign Ministers recalled the responsibility of the international community and competent international authorities to take a clear and resolute stance in condemning these war crimes, seeking accountability and punishing the perpetrators,” the ministry said.
