President Donald Trump stated this Wednesday that the U.S. naval blockade against Iran is "incredible" and compared it to "a steel wall," assuring that the Iranians cannot get anything through "by any means" and that they are "out of business," in statements released by the official Rapid Response 47 account.
"We have the situation very much under control. The blockade is incredible... it's like a steel wall. No one gets through," said Trump, highlighting the role of the U.S. Navy. "In particular, the Iranians are not managing to get anything through at all, so they're out of business."
The leader also issued a direct warning to Tehran: "If they don't reach an agreement, they will end up reaching one shortly after. That's how things are."
These statements come on the same day that Trump announced the temporary pause of the Freedom Project, the naval operation to escort merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, at the request of Pakistan and other intermediary countries. However, he clarified that this pause does not affect the naval blockade on Iranian ports, which remains fully in effect.
The blockade was ordered on April 13, following the failure of negotiations in Islamabad, and involves more than 10,000 military personnel and a dozen ships from Central Command. Just days earlier, on May 3 and 4, Trump had activated the Freedom Project with 15,000 military personnel and over 100 aircraft to escort commercial traffic in the area.
The conflict erupted on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iranian nuclear facilities, eliminating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and 49 high-ranking officials of the regime. Iran responded on March 4 by closing the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world's oil and gas transit—using mines, drones, and missiles, stranding approximately 1,550 ships and driving the price of Brent crude from 67 to over 126 dollars per barrel.
In parallel with military pressure, negotiations remain stalled. Iran introduced a 14-point peace plan through Pakistani mediators between May 1 and May 3, which proposes a 15-year pause on uranium enrichment in its third phase. The U.S. rejects this approach because its own plan demands "zero enrichment" and a 20-year moratorium.
Also this Wednesday, Trump posted on social media: "Iran cannot come to an agreement... They better wake up soon," accompanied by an image with the slogan "The good guy era is over." The tone aligns with that of an anonymous U.S. official who summarized Washington's position: “Either we see the real contours of an achievable agreement soon, or they're going to be bombed mercilessly."
The economic impact of the conflict is also felt within the U.S.: the price of gasoline has skyrocketed by 50% since the beginning of the war with Iran, according to reports from this Wednesday.
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