Donald Trump has instructed his administration to prepare for a prolonged naval blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources in the US government.
According to the newspaper, at recent meetings the president decided to keep pressuring Iran’s economy and oil exports by blocking its ports. The White House believes that alternative scenarios—a resumption of strikes or withdrawal from the conflict—carry greater risks. At the same time, the continuation of the blockade, the paper notes, is prolonging the war, which has already led to rising energy prices, falling approval ratings for Trump, and complicated the Republicans’ prospects in the midterm elections.
The sources say Trump is comfortable with the format of an open-ended blockade, which he sees as a tool of pressure capable of driving Iran towards “collapse”. One US official said such measures are “undermining” the country’s economy and forcing Tehran to come to the negotiating table.
Reuters reports that US intelligence is also analysing Iran’s possible response to a scenario in which Trump declares a US victory in the conflict. One source told the agency that the aim is to assess the consequences of a potential American withdrawal from the war.
Since the start of the conflict, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the key routes for global oil supplies. In response, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Axios had earlier reported that Tehran sent Washington a proposal that envisages ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while postponing discussion of the nuclear programme. According to Reuters, the plan envisages phased de-escalation: first a ceasefire and guarantees against further attacks, then the lifting of the blockade and a decision on the status of the strait, which Iran wants to keep under its control.
According to Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the US side reacted sceptically to the proposal.