Trump Vows “All or None” Blockade on Iranian Oil | NEW DETAILS
President Trump announces a total "all or none" naval blockade on Iranian oil exports, moving U.S. warships into position after nuclear talks collapse. "It’s going to be all or none," Trump warns.
President Donald Trump declared a hardline new policy toward Iran Sunday, announcing that the United States will impose an “all or none” complete blockade on Iranian oil exports.
In his strongest remarks yet on the issue, Trump made it clear there will be no partial deals or exceptions:
“It’s going to be all or none. And that’s the way it is. You saw what we did with Venezuela. It’ll be something very similar to that, but at a higher level.”
He continued:
“It’s called ‘all in and all out.’ There’ll be a time when we’ll have them all come in and all come out, but it won’t be a percentage. It won’t be a friend of yours, like a country that’s your ally or a country that’s your friend is all or nothing.”
Trump confirmed the U.S. is already moving military assets into position:
“We’re just bringing the ships up. We got a lot of ships that we’re bringing them up. We think that numerous countries are going to be helping us with this also, but we’re putting on a complete blockade.”
He added:
“We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like or whatever it is.”
Trump also revealed that the U.S. and Iran had come very close to a broader agreement during recent talks, saying the two sides were “ready to agree on 90%” but ultimately failed because Iran refused to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.
The announcement comes amid the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and just after the collapse of U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad.
Israeli commentator and journalist Doron Kadosh explains:
Trump’s move is simple: after a round of negotiations failed, in which the Iranians displayed toughness, stubbornness, and a refusal to abandon their nuclear program, he realized that an additional means of leverage was required.
Instead of resuming strikes on Iran or opening fire, Trump has decided to implement a blockade that will cripple the Iranian economy without firing a single shot. By doing so, he shifts the dilemma to the Iranian side: either they return to the negotiating table in a more compromising mood ("give us everything we want," in Trump's words), or they open fire (and thus trigger the resumption of strikes against themselves).
The dilemma is now on the Iranian side.