Trump described the American maritime blockade as a "steel wall," adding that "there is nothing Iran can do about it." He stated that Iran "is no longer a troublemaker in the Middle East," and accused the country of merely making statements without taking real action.
Trump claimed Iran's economy is in a worsening situation, saying inflation rates have reached 300 per cent and that Teheran no longer has funds to pay troops' salaries. He added: "Iran has no navy and has no air force, and the remaining army is not getting paid," while stating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps "has mostly been destroyed" and the fate of Iran's leadership "is unclear at best." Teheran has not issued immediate comment on the American president's statement.
Trump's statement comes as efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have suffered a setback. Iran has halted most maritime traffic through the strait, while Washington has imposed a blockade on ports and shipments linked to Teheran. An Iranian official confirmed on Wednesday that there has been no progress in reviving a provisional agreement with the United States, and rejected any talks to extend a ceasefire. According to Reuters, contact has been conducted indirectly through mediators including Qatar and Pakistan.
Teheran has made ending the war, easing sanctions, and unfreezing its frozen assets conditions for ending the strait closure, while Washington has linked lifting the blockade to the restoration of unobstructed commercial shipping. The United States announced several days earlier that progress had been achieved in talks between Iran and Oman, but hopes for a forthcoming agreement diminished when both sides exchanged new terms and demands.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered a vital route for global energy exports, and disruptions to shipping there have increased pressure on oil supplies and driven up prices.
