President Trump said on Tuesday he is keeping Iran under a naval blockade until Tehran accepts a deal addressing U.S. nuclear concerns, and he described the pressure campaign as his main leverage. [1]
Trump told Axios the blockade is "somewhat more effective than the bombing" and said Iran is being squeezed by the loss of oil exports. He also said, "They want to settle. They don't want me to keep the blockade. I don't want to [lift the blockade], because I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon." [1]
U.S. Central Command has already prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran if talks fail, according to the same account. [1]
A senior Iranian security source warned that the blockade will soon be met with "practical and unprecedented action" if it continues, and said Iranian armed forces believe a punishing response is needed. The source also said Iran has so far shown restraint to give diplomacy a chance and to let Trump end the conflict. [1]
Trump said negotiations with Iran are ongoing and that Iranians want to reach a settlement to have the blockade lifted. He also claimed Iran's oil storage sites and pipelines are close to exploding because it cannot export oil under the restrictions. [1]
The next step remains the talks themselves, with Trump saying the two sides are still negotiating over terms that would end the blockade. [1]