President Donald Trump said the U.S. will maintain a naval blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.

This escalation represents a significant shift in diplomatic pressure, as the U.S. uses direct maritime control to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

Speaking at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., Trump said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. He said that the situation for Iran would worsen due to the maritime blockade [1].

While the blockade is intended to remain until an agreement is reached, Trump said he wants a response from Iran within three to five days [2]. This timeline suggests a narrow window for diplomatic resolution before further actions are taken.

The U.S. Department of Defense added a warning regarding Tehran's strategic direction. A spokesperson for the Pentagon said that the U.S. has pursued pre-emptive strikes because Iran has not abandoned its nuclear weapons ambitions, mirroring the path taken by North Korea [2].

Reports indicate that Iran has already attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, despite an extension of a cease-fire [2]. The U.S. response aims to counter these actions and force a return to the negotiating table.

The Pentagon's comparison to North Korea underscores a belief that diplomatic sanctions alone may be insufficient to stop the development of a nuclear arsenal. The blockade serves as a physical manifestation of this policy, ensuring that the cost of non-compliance remains high for the Iranian government.

“Iran cannot have nuclear weapons”

The U.S. is shifting from economic sanctions to active military containment in one of the world's most critical oil transit points. By tying the lifting of the blockade to a specific nuclear deal and imposing a short-term response window, the administration is attempting to create a crisis point that forces Iran to choose between economic collapse and nuclear disarmament.