President Donald Trump said the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place until Iran reaches a nuclear agreement.
The decision to maintain the blockade represents a high-stakes strategy to force Iranian concessions. By controlling one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, the U.S. aims to isolate Iran economically to secure a diplomatic breakthrough on its nuclear program.
Trump said the maritime operation is "genius" and said the blockade is "100% [1]" effective. He said the measure is working to apply pressure on the Iranian government.
The announcement comes as the broader Middle East crisis has lasted 62 [2] days. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, serves as a primary artery for global energy shipments.
Trump said the blockade is a necessary tool to ensure the terms of a future nuclear deal are met. He said the current strategic approach is a successful method of coercion.
"This blockade measure is truly genius. This blockade is working 100% perfectly," Trump said.
“"This blockade measure is truly genius."”
The continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz leverages a critical global shipping lane to create economic leverage over Iran. Because the strait is a primary route for oil exports, the U.S. strategy risks triggering global energy price volatility to achieve a specific geopolitical goal: a restrictive nuclear agreement.
