Trump orders aides to prep for ‘extended blockade’ on Iran: Report
The president renewed his threats against Iran on social media, warning Tehran to ‘get smart’ alongside an AI-generated image of himself holding a rifle
US President Donald Trump has instructed his aides to prepare for an “extended blockade” against the Islamic Republic of Iran, sources told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on 29 April.
“Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran. In recent meetings, including a Monday discussion in the Situation Room, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran’s economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports,” US officials told the outlet.
“He assessed that his other options – resume bombing or walk away from the conflict – carried more risk than maintaining the blockade,” they added.
The report coincided with one of the president’s customary Truth Social posts.
“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” he wrote. Attached is an AI-generated image of Trump holding an assault rifle – with explosions in the background and a caption reading “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY.”
Earlier, Iran’s military said it was preparing for a renewal of the war.
“The Army has not considered the war to be over. From the very first day the fighting stopped and a ceasefire took hold on the battlefield, the forces – due to a lack of trust in the enemies – continued updating their objectives, completing the target bank, maintaining training, and drawing on wartime experience. The Army has both produced and upgraded its equipment, and that conditions remain effectively wartime for Iran,” said Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia.
“Monitoring, surveillance, and equipping of forces have continued without interruption. If the enemy resorts to another act of aggression, it would face Iran with new tools, methods, and in new arenas,” he added, vowing a “more crushing response.”
Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the political aide to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, also warned that “The giant US warships will be burned and taken out of service if any aggression is launched against Iran.”
The WSJ report on Tuesday came a day after gas prices in the US hit their highest in four years.
Global energy prices also hit a three-week high on Tuesday, with the Brent crude benchmark rising four percent to past $105 per barrel. Brent crude remains 40 percent higher than it was before the start of the illegal US-Israeli war against Iran.
Ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the US have stalled. Although the truce was extended, Trump continues to enforce an illegal blockade on Iranian ports and has seized several vessels linked to Iran, prompting Tehran to respond similarly.
On Tuesday, the US imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities linked to Iran's banking sector, a move made in an effort to ratchet up pressure.
The Islamic Republic has continued to insist on the clauses of its 10-point plan, which Washington initially accepted as a “workable basis” before backtracking and imposing a blockade.
The terms include reparations, Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and a full ceasefire in Lebanon.
The US military buildup across West Asia remains at an all-time high. The Russian Security Council recently warned that Washington could be using diplomacy as a cover to launch ground operations.
Earlier this month, Trump threatened that “lots of bombs” would “start going off” if a deal is not reached. Israel also said it was awaiting approval to renew strikes against the Islamic Republic.
Tehran has repeatedly said that it is ready to resume military operations.