Washington: US President Donald Trump has instructed his aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran aimed at intensifying economic pressure on Tehran and forcing concessions on its nuclear programme, The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the report, Trump took the decision during recent meetings with senior officials, including a Situation Room discussion on Monday. The administration plans to maintain pressure by continuing restrictions on oil shipments to and from Iranian ports.
Officials cited in the report said Trump assessed that alternatives such as resuming military strikes or withdrawing from the strategy carried greater risks than sustaining the blockade. The move signals a prolonged standoff with no immediate resolution in sight, particularly regarding maritime activity through the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iran had “informed” Washington that it was in a “state of collapse” and had requested the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible” amid the ongoing West Asia tensions.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’. They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (which I believe they will be able to do!).”
Iran, in its latest reported proposal to end hostilities, has suggested that the United States should first agree to lift the blockade on Iranian ports and end the conflict, after which Tehran would be willing to discuss its nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that maritime traffic at Iran’s Chabahar port has increased significantly since the blockade began. It stated that prior to the restrictions, an average of five ships were moored or anchored at the port daily, whereas now more than 20 vessels remain there.
“Prior to the U.S. blockade on Iran, 5 ships were moored or anchored in the Iranian port of Chah Bahar on an average day. Today, more than 20 vessels remain in Chah Bahar as U.S. forces cut off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran during the ongoing blockade,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
The developments point to rising economic pressure on Iran as tensions escalate over maritime routes in the region.