President Trump said Monday that his blockade of Iranian ports is designed to get Tehran back to the negotiating table and compel the Iranians to relinquish their chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr. Trump outlined the purpose of the blockade as Iran’s decision to restrict oil traffic in the strait remained a sticking point in suspended peace negotiations between the nations.
“We can’t let a country extort the world, because that’s what they’re doing,” Mr. Trump said at the White House.
Mr. Trump spoke to reporters after Vice President J.D. Vance was unable to reach a deal with Iranian negotiators over the weekend in Pakistan.
The president said differences over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions are standing in the way of a longer deal.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Trump said.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7, providing space for deeper talks to settle the war.
Mr. Trump said Iran still wants to make a peace deal “very badly,” and declined to say if he planned to revive his threat to bomb Iranian power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure.
“It won’t be pleasant for them, put it that way,” Mr. Trump said.
The president launched his campaign against Iran on Feb. 28. Joint strikes with Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader and other top Iranian officials, and Tehran retaliated by striking targets in Israel and the Gulf region and restricting oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher oil prices have meant higher gasoline prices for everyday American drivers.
The national average price of a gallon of gas stood at $4.12 — down from $4.16 in recent days but more than a dollar higher than when the war started.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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