Trump: I do not want to lift the blockade

US President Donald Trump has made new statements regarding the military and diplomatic tensions between the US and Iran. Speaking to the US-based news site Axios, Trump said he rejected Iran's proposal to lift the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and to address nuclear negotiations in the coming period.

The US President noted that the blockade would continue until an agreement is reached that would end US concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program. Trump also emphasized that Iran is in a difficult situation due to the current blockade, stating, "The blockade is a little more effective than bombing. They are choking right now, and it's going to get worse for them. They cannot have nuclear weapons."

Stating that Iran wants to make a deal but that he does not want to end the blockade, the US President said, "They don't want me to keep the blockade. And I don't want to lift the blockade, because I don't want them to have nuclear weapons."

CENTCOM's alleged attack plan

Axios also claimed that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had prepared a "short and sharp" attack plan against Iran to overcome the deadlock in the negotiation process. It was alleged that the plan in question included various military activities, including infrastructure targets. It was suggested that after the attacks, the Washington administration expected to force Tehran to return to the negotiating table and adopt a more flexible stance.

In his previous statements, Trump had argued that Iran's exports had come to a standstill due to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had claimed that Tehran's storage facilities were full due to oil that could not be exported, and that this could cause serious damage to energy infrastructure in the near term. These statements by Trump were evaluated by experts as "exaggerated expressions."