Trump: The Blockade will begin shortly

Update:  Important interview with Trump and Maria Bartiromo above Trump’s posted statement.  Highlights at the bottom.

Peloni:  It was important for Trump to secure China’s support in using their influence with the Iranians towards accepting US terms.  As America’s peer competitor and vocal critic of US actions regarding Iran, it was also surprising to see, but not too much so.  China has no interest in fighting a war over Iran, even if they had the force projection capacity to do so, which they don’t.  What China wants is to satisfy Chinese interests, and at all costs this includes keeping at least Chinese shipments from the Arabian/Persian Gulf flowing.  The attempt to get Iran to accept US terms was the last gambit possible prior to closing the Gulf completely, and this is exactly why China offered its assistance via its proxy ally Pakistan in doing so.  It remains to be seen if they will support or contest the US blockade as such a maneuver will come at a cost to China’s interests.  Of course, as many other nations are currently doing, China is free to sail its oil fleet to America instead of the Arabian/Persian Gulf while Trump does what is needed to bend the crazy regime in Tehran to Washington’s will, if not break (hopefully) entirely.  All of this comes at a price to Chinese prestige, in the region and the world, while Trump is also threatening China not to rearm Iran while this current showdown persists.  So, as Iran and the US have each drawn their respective lines in the sand, it remains to be seen how China will react to this latest move to shut down Iran’s nuclear ambitions, if not the Iranian regime as well.  One important tell might be that Pakistan is deploying troops to Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump | Truth Social

So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not. Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.

I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition. The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so. This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World. They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their Navy, and most of their “mine droppers,” have been completely blown up. They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance? There is great dishonor and permanent harm to the reputation of Iran, and what’s left of their “Leaders,” but we are beyond all of that. As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST! Every Law in the book is being violated by them. I have been fully debriefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, on the meeting that took place in Islamabad through the kind and very competent leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan. They are very extraordinary men, and continuously thank me for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India. I always appreciate hearing that — The amount of Humanity spoken of is incomprehensible.

The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran’s Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn’t matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!

Highlights on Trump interview:

Complete blockade til full freedom of navigation is returned to Straits of Hormuz

Iran will not be allowed to select will be able to leave the Arabian/Persian Gulf

If China gets caught helping Iran, they get a 50% tariff

Trump predicts that Iran will give in.  He wants 100% of his demands and he believes Iran will give it to him

Trump believes oil and gas prices will return to pre war levels or maybe a little higher

Trump suggests China buy US or Venezuela oil, suggests the price might be a little lower

Some NATO allies will be sending mine sweepers

“As Bibi Netanyahu said, we’re the big brother and they’re the small brother. It’s been a very effective team”