Behind Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade again

US President Donald Trump announced this evening (Monday) that the naval blockade of Iran will begin tomorrow at 23:00 (Israel time). Trump’s decision to restore the naval blockade is very significant – and in fact gives the signal for the disintegration of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, which was signed less than a month ago. According to the US military, the naval blockade will begin tomorrow at 23:00.

Imposing a naval blockade on Iran is part of an attempt to increase the pressure on Iran. Trump and his people believe that the naval blockade is more effective and more efficient than military bombings. They believe that the naval blockade was the move that exerted the most pressure on the Iranian leadership during Operation “Hari’s Roar”.

At the same time as the naval blockade, the US military deepens its attacks in Iran, with more and more targets being attacked every day. The escalation of attacks is not only carried out in the Hormuz area – and bombings have been carried out along the entire coast of Iran in recent days. Senior American officials claim that the goal is to “slowly erode all of Iran’s attack capabilities along the coast”, and this is to make the Revolutionary Guards lose their leverage in Hormuz.

In the meantime, the Americans continue to move ships in the south of the Strait of Hormuz, near the coast of Oman. Every day for the past few days, at least 20 ships managed to pass in coordination with the US Navy.

Senior American officials say that if there is a negotiation with Iran – it will only be under fire. However, the chances of the negotiation being successful are slim, because the Revolutionary Guards are determined to maintain control of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump announced earlier today that the US military will restore the naval blockade of Iran. In a post he published on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote: “The Strait of Hormuz is open, and it will remain open – with or without Iran. We are bringing back the ‘Iranian blockade’, as it will be called, because it prevents only Iranian ships or Iran’s clients from entering or leaving. All other countries will be able to use the strait freely and fairly”

Trump added: “The United States will henceforth be called the ‘guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,’ but as part of this role, and out of a principle of fairness, it will receive reimbursement at the rate of 20% of the value of any cargo that is transported through the strait, for all the costs necessary to carry out the task of providing security and safety to this volatile and dangerous region of the world. The implementation process and the establishment of the mechanism will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The US Central Command released today a video of the attacks carried out by the US military in Bandar Abbas yesterday. According to the Americans, a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran was attacked. The attack was carried out, for the first time, using suicide boats.