Trump vows to maintain Iran blockade, Tehran threatens ‘practical’ action

President Donald Trump says the United States will continue its naval blockade of Iran until a nuclear deal is reached with Tehran. The US president told Axios on Wednesday that he does not want to end his blockade on Iranian ports, apparently rejecting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz so that US-Iran talks could proceed. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig,” Trump said of Iran. “And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Iran has set lifting the siege as a precondition for returning to the talks. According to several media reports, Iran offered a limited deal this week that would end its own blockade on Hormuz in exchange for the end of the siege on its ports. Trump’s comments on Wednesday indicate that he turned down the Iranian proposal. The US president has been emphasising that he is comfortable with the status quo with Iran, suggesting that he is in no rush to push for a comprehensive agreement or return to the fighting. At least two commercial ships linked to Iran have been captured by the US as part of the siege. The US military said on Monday that it has also redirected 39 vessels in the regional waters over the past weeks. Iran has responded by also seizing vessels it accuses of violating maritime regulations. …