On April 22, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would not lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that such a move would hinder any potential agreement with Iran. He claimed that Iran loses approximately $500 million daily due to the blockade, which he attributes to U.S. actions.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that while Iran publicly advocates for the strait to remain closed, the country is actually interested in its reopening. He further asserted that the U.S. had effectively blocked the strait, and that Iranian officials were merely pretending to support its closure to maintain credibility.
“If we do this, there will never be a deal with Iran — unless we destroy the rest of their country along with its leaders,” Trump wrote.
On April 21, Trump indicated he was postponing military action against Iran at the request of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, citing significant divisions within the Iranian government. He noted that a ceasefire would continue until a unified Iranian proposal was presented and negotiations reached a conclusion.
Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, reported that Trump had unilaterally extended the ceasefire, while Iranian officials rejected the terms proposed by the U.S. Earlier, the Tasnim news agency stated that Iran’s negotiation team would not attend talks in Islamabad, expressing skepticism about the prospects for meaningful discussions.
On April 11, trilateral talks involving the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, took place in Islamabad. Following these discussions, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stated that the parties failed to reach an agreement on a long-term ceasefire, primarily due to disagreements over key issues.
In response to the lack of progress, Trump announced on April 13 that the U.S. Navy would initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at intercepting vessels that had paid transit fees to Iran. He warned that any Iranian military action against U.S. ships would result in severe consequences.
On April 18, Iran declared it would re-establish strict control over the Strait in response to the U.S. blockade. By April 20, Trump expressed doubts about the likelihood of extending the ceasefire beyond the April 22 deadline if no agreement was reached.
In a broader context, tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated significantly. On February 28, Israel conducted an attack on Tehran, prompting Trump to announce a “major military operation” against Iran, aimed at neutralizing perceived threats from the Iranian regime. He accused Iran of supporting militant groups in the region.
In subsequent statements, Trump emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of Iran’s leadership and threatened severe military action if Iran did not alter its course. On March 6, he indicated that he had potential candidates in mind for a new Iranian leader.
Despite ongoing military threats, on March 26, Trump announced a temporary suspension of attacks on Iranian energy facilities, extending the deadline for negotiations. However, he warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to devastating consequences for Iran.
On April 6, Iran provided a ten-point plan to the U.S. and Israel for ending hostilities through mediation from Pakistan. The following day, Trump stated he would delay military action for two weeks, contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He described the ceasefire as bilateral and indicated that Iran’s ten-point proposal could serve as a basis for negotiations.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remarked that safe passage through the Strait within two weeks would be feasible only with coordination with Iranian armed forces and consideration of technical limitations.
Former President Donald Trump's recent statements highlight the complex dynamics surrounding the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions with Iran. As negotiations stall, both sides grapple with significant geopolitical implications.