Trump Vows Naval Blockade Until Iran Abandons Nuclear Programme; Tehran Warns of Retaliation

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has declared that the naval blockade on Iran will continue until Tehran signs a deal completely abandoning its nuclear programme, rejecting Iran's demand that the Strait of Hormuz be opened first as a precondition for talks. In an interview with Axios, Trump said Iran was "suffocating" under the blockade and that he would not allow the country to possess nuclear weapons. He added that the blockade was more effective than bombing, and that Iran's delaying tactics would no longer work.

Trump subsequently shared an AI-generated image of himself holding a gun on Truth Social, signalling there would be no concessions. US Central Command has reportedly drawn up plans for swift and powerful precision strikes on strategic targets inside Iran if required, though the current strategy prioritises economic strangulation through the blockade.

Iran responded with a sharp warning, with security circles stating that their patience has limits and that if the blockade is not lifted, the US will face severe consequences. Tensions in the region have sharply escalated after Trump mockingly said Iran's oil pipelines were about to burst due to blocked exports — a remark that has been widely seen as a taunt designed to provoke.

With the ceasefire period having expired and both sides hardening their positions, the risk of a direct military confrontation in the Gulf region remains acute. Global energy markets continue to watch the Strait of Hormuz situation with deep concern, as the waterway carries approximately a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade.