On April 12 local time, U.S. President Trump posted on social media that, effective immediately, the U.S. Navy would begin imposing a blockade on all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz, intercepting and inspecting in international waters all vessels paying transit fees to Iran, while also clearing mines laid by Iran in the strait. Trump stated that Iran had pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz open but failed to honor the commitment. He remarked that Iran “knows how to end the current situation.” So far, Iran has not responded.
Trump wrote that the U.S.-Iran talks had reached agreement on “most issues,” but no consensus was achieved on the key issue of the “nuclear question.” Trump said the U.S. side had been briefed on the relevant talks, which lasted about 20 hours, but Iran was “unwilling to abandon its nuclear ambitions.” Trump stated that the U.S. would continue to push for negotiations, but at the same time was “fully prepared.” He reiterated that Iran “will never possess nuclear weapons.”
Editor/Lee