US President Donald Trump has broken his silence after potential peace talks failed with Iran in Islamabad, announcing that the US Navy will now begin a “blockade” of the Strait of Hormuz.
His announcement came through a Truth Social post on Sunday as the whole world was waiting to see “what’s next” after the Pakistan-mediated talks ended without any agreement between the US and Iran.
Trump had last week announced a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war on Iran to facilitate the talks in Islamabad aimed at making a deal with the Gulf nation.
He now accused Tehran of extortion, referring to the fees charged to vessels seeking to traverse the strategically vital waterway of Hormuz.
“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” the US president said.
He also claimed that “other countries will be involved with this blockade.”
The US Navy will begin destroying Iranian mines in the strait, he said, threatening that Tehran’s forces attempting to obstruct the effort “will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
Earlier, the US and Iranian delegations left the 21-hour talks in Islamabad without a peace deal, though a tentative ceasefire in the Gulf continues to hold.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation, said Washington was “negotiating in good faith” and made its red lines “as clear as we possibly could.” He said Iran had “chosen not to accept our terms.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks produced some progress on several issues but noted that differences remain on “two or three key points.”
