Trump prepares for prolonged Iran blockade, WSJ reports

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, signaling a shift toward sustained economic pressure as Washington weighs its next steps in the conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Citing U.S. officials, the report said Trump has opted to intensify efforts to choke Iran’s oil exports and restrict shipping to and from its ports, viewing a blockade as less risky than either resuming large-scale military strikes or pursuing a rapid diplomatic exit.

The move follows an April ceasefire that halted a major bombing campaign but left tensions elevated across the region.

The Journal said Trump recently rejected a three-step Iranian proposal that would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz early while deferring nuclear negotiations, judging it insufficient to address U.S. demands for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Trump is not willing to drop a key demand that Iran commit to suspending uranium enrichment for at least 20 years and accept restrictions beyond that period, the report added.

While the blockade is seen as pressuring Iran’s economy, it also raises the prospect of a prolonged standoff, with officials warning the conflict could settle into a “no-deal, no-war” phase as diplomacy remains stalled, according to the report.