President Donald Trump has disclosed that multiple countries will support the United States in enforcing a planned naval blockade against Iran, further escalating tensions in the Middle East following the collapse of diplomatic talks in Islamabad.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump confirmed that Washington is moving forward with a comprehensive blockade strategy aimed at restricting Iran’s ability to export oil and generate revenue. The announcement comes after negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials failed to yield a deal to end weeks of conflict in the region.
“Well, we’re going to be blockading. It’ll take a little while, but it’ll be effective pretty soon,” Trump said, indicating that preparations for the operation are already underway.
The U.S. president emphasized that the blockade would not be a unilateral effort, noting that several countries are expected to participate in the enforcement process. Although he did not specify which nations would be involved, he suggested that support from regional allies, particularly in the Gulf, has already begun.
“We think that numerous countries are going to be helping us with this also, but we’re putting on a complete blockade. We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like,” he stated.
The proposed blockade is centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. The waterway has been at the heart of the ongoing conflict, with Iran previously restricting ship movements and raising concerns about the use of naval mines.
Trump described Iran’s actions in the strait as a form of “extortion,” arguing that threats of mine deployment have discouraged commercial shipping and created instability in global energy markets.
“They can say, ‘We’ll drop one mine, two mines, 10 mines,’ and that’s enough to scare off ships that cost billions of dollars,” he said, explaining the rationale behind the U.S. response.
As part of the blockade strategy, the president revealed that the U.S. and its partners would deploy both advanced and traditional minesweepers to the region. These vessels are designed to detect and neutralize underwater explosives, with the goal of restoring safe navigation through the strait.
“We have highly sophisticated underwater minesweepers, which are the latest and the greatest, but we’re also bringing in more traditional minesweepers,” Trump said. He added that the United Kingdom and other allied nations are expected to contribute similar capabilities to the effort.
The move reflects a dual approach by Washington: securing maritime routes while simultaneously applying economic pressure on Tehran. By targeting Iran’s oil exports, the blockade aims to weaken a key source of revenue for the country amid ongoing hostilities.
Trump also expressed frustration with the NATO alliance, stating that while some members are now offering assistance, he believes the response should have come earlier.
“I’m very disappointed with NATO,” he said. “Now they want to come and help with the strait, and it won’t take long to clean it up.”
Despite the breakdown in negotiations, Trump described the talks in Islamabad as largely productive, claiming that both sides had reached agreement on most issues. However, he identified Iran’s nuclear programme as the primary obstacle to a final deal.
“We had a very intensive negotiation, and towards the end, it got very friendly, and we got just about every point we needed, except for the fact that they refused to give up their nuclear ambition,” he said.
The president reiterated his long-standing opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, stating unequivocally that such an outcome would not be permitted under his administration.
“On the important issue, they want to have nuclear weapons. They’re not going to have nuclear weapons,” he added.
In addition to military measures, Trump signaled potential economic actions against countries that might support Iran. He warned that nations supplying weapons to Tehran could face significant trade penalties, including tariffs of up to 50 percent.
“If we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff, which is a staggering amount,” he said, highlighting the administration’s willingness to use economic leverage alongside military pressure.
The president also pointed to alternative energy arrangements, suggesting that countries affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could turn to other suppliers. He specifically mentioned that China could source oil and gas from the United States or Venezuela instead of relying on Iran.
“As far as China is concerned, they can send their ships to us or to Venezuela,” Trump said, framing the blockade as part of a broader strategy to reshape global energy flows.
Trump further highlighted his administration’s trade policies, including tariffs on Chinese imports, as part of a wider effort to protect U.S. industries and counter foreign economic influence.
The announcement has heightened concerns among international observers about the risk of further escalation in the region. A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt global oil supplies, increase energy prices, and draw additional countries into the conflict.
With diplomatic efforts currently stalled, the situation remains highly volatile. The involvement of multiple nations in the blockade could transform the crisis into a broader international confrontation, even as calls for renewed negotiations continue.
As preparations for the operation move forward, global attention is focused on whether the planned blockade will succeed in pressuring Iran back to the negotiating table or trigger a deeper and more prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
