Washington DC: After the US-Iran peace talks collapse in Pakistan's Islamabad, United States President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring an option of
limited military action against Iran apart from imposing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump and his advisers are fully resuming strikes against Iran to break a stalemate in the peace talk, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing official sources. As per the report, the US President is also considering a full-fledged bombing of Iran. However, the chances of this move are less, as it could further destabilise the region. Trump can focus more on a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and can even mount pressure on allies to take responsibility for the escort mission through the strait in the future. However, the White House set aside the report as mere speculation. "The President has already ordered a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, ending the Iranian extortion, and wisely keeps all additional options on the table," White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said, as quoted by WSJ. Trump On Iran Coming Back To Negotiations: The US president said that he does not care if Iran comes back to negotiations. "I don't know. I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine. Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted. The manufacturing capability for missiles and drones is largely defeated. We've been very nice. We haven't ripped down too many bridges... And remember, their promise was that they were going to open the Strait of Hormuz. They didn't do it. They lied," he told reporters. Also Read: Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Did Trump and CENTCOM Contradict Each Other on Key Details? US President Criticises NATO: Expressing disappointment with NATO nations, Trump said that now the they did not help the US in the Iran war, despite Washington helping them with trillions of dollars. "They're going to be coming up. But I'm very disappointed in NATO. They weren't there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren't there for us. Now they want to come up, but there's no real threat anymore. But NATO was not there for us. We spent trillions of dollars on NATO to help it guard against Russia," he stated. Iran Israel War Live Updates US Naval Blockade In Hormuz: Trump announced the imposition of a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. On Truth Social, Trump announced the blockade in characteristically sweeping terms. As per Trump, talks with Iran failed in Islamabad as Tehran was not willing to give up "its nuclear ambitions." While posting about the US forces blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Trump wrote, "Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz."
The US will block all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports”, including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations,” CENTCOM said. It further added that US forces would not impede ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
