War in the Middle East: Donald Trump announces that the United States will implement a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

After the failure of negotiations between Iran and the United States, Donald Trump ordered an American naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. This was in response to Iran’s “intransigent” refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions during peace talks held from Saturday to Sunday morning in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The discussions lasted more than 20 hours, but both sides failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, which was triggered on February 28 by an Israeli-American offensive on Iran, casting doubt on the ongoing two-week ceasefire.

JD Vance, the American vice president, who was present on-site, returned to the United States Sunday morning after reportedly making a “final and best possible offer” to Iran. The president of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, leading the Iranian delegation, criticized the United States as “incapable” of gaining Iran’s trust during the discussions.

Other countries involved in the blockade effort

On Sunday, the American president spoke for the first time on Truth Social, acknowledging that the talks in Pakistan were “progressing well” and that “most points had been agreed upon,” but stated that Tehran had refused to compromise on the nuclear issue.

The United States will initiate a “blockade process of all ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” through which a portion of the world’s oil, gas, and fertilizers transits, according to the White House occupant.

In two lengthy messages, the American president warned: “Any Iranian who shoots at us, or at peaceful ships, will be ANNIHILATED!” implying that “other countries” would be involved, without naming them.

Later on Fox News, he further specified that Britain “and a few other countries” would send minesweeping ships to the strait. Britain has not announced any deployment of warships in the region, but is said to be considering sending mine-clearing drones.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, responded on Sunday by claiming to have “full control” of the traffic in the strait and threatening to trap their enemies in a “deadly whirlwind.”