According to a report by the The Wall Street Journal, citing informed officials, US President Donald Trump and his advisers are assessing the option of resuming limited military strikes on Iran, alongside imposing US control over the Strait of Hormuz. The move is being considered as a mechanism to break the current deadlock following the collapse of peace negotiations.
Sources indicated that a return to full scale bombardment of Iran is currently ruled out, due to the risk of destabilising the wider region. Instead, the administration is weighing a naval blockade as the least damaging available option within its current strategic framework.
Escalation Signals and Strategic Posturing
The report further noted that Trump has renewed threats to target Iranian infrastructure, signalling a readiness to escalate pressure through both military and economic measures. White House sources confirmed that the President has already directed preparations for a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, framing the move as a response to what he described as Iranian coercion.
Despite the breakdown in negotiations, officials stated that Trump remains open to a diplomatic resolution, maintaining a dual track approach that combines pressure with conditional engagement.
Naval Blockade Announcement Following Islamabad Talks
On Sunday, Trump formally announced the immediate initiation of procedures for a “comprehensive naval blockade” targeting all vessels entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement followed the failure of negotiations held in Islamabad to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.
In a detailed statement published on his platform Truth Social, Trump outlined the background of the talks, which lasted nearly 20 hours in the Pakistani capital. The US delegation included J. D. Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, while the Iranian delegation consisted of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri Kani.
Trump stated that although agreement had been reached on several points, Tehran’s insistence on maintaining its nuclear ambitions ultimately led to a deadlock. He reiterated his position, declaring that Iran would never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Accusations Against Tehran and Military Directives
The President accused Iran of engaging in what he described as “global blackmail”, alleging that it had planted mines in international waters and imposed unlawful transit fees on vessels. In response, he issued directives to initiate an immediate naval blockade, with participation from allied states, aimed at halting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until full security of the waterway is ensured.
