Trump Shifts Strategy: Abandoning Diplomacy to 'Strangle' Iran
President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. envoys to cease all negotiations with Iran. According to a CNN report, the White House is pivoting from a strategy of immediate strikes to a policy of gradual 'strangulation' of the Iranian regime.
A report by CNN revealed yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered senior envoys of the American administration to completely halt talks with Iran. In parallel, senior White House officials recently informed political allies that the administration is shifting its strategy from an approach of "striking Iran as soon as possible" to a policy of "strangling it" gradually over time.
Furthermore, contrary to his previous claims that talks were progressing well and a new deal was imminent—statements made repeatedly since the collapse of the ceasefire signed in June—Trump officially announced today on his Truth Social account that no diplomatic engagement with Tehran is currently taking place.
Meanwhile, the conflict between the two nations continues to escalate.
Following the expiration of the deadline for agreements the day before yesterday, the American President clarified that the naval blockade of Iran remains in full force:
"No talks or discussions are taking place, or planned, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The naval blockade remains in full force. The Strait of Hormuz is open and active. All water mines have been removed or detonated. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Trump's remarks followed the publication of a map featuring the Strait of Hormuz, alongside parts of Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, labeled at the top as "America's new territory," with the strait area circled.
The publication sparked outrage in Tehran, drawing sharp threats from the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, who claimed on the social network X that Trump's perception is an "illusion" that will soon be corrected:
"We will correct the illusions of this delusional man."
The current tension follows the expiration of a 60-day deadline set within the framework of understandings between the countries, which failed to produce an agreement to end the war or advance the nuclear issue. With the collapse of diplomatic negotiations, sanctions have been reinstated, and the dispute surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has intensified. Summarizing the expiration of the memorandum of understanding, President Trump stated:
"The number one goal is, and will always be, that Iran cannot, in any form or way, possess nuclear weapons."
