President Donald Trump is considering ordering limited strikes in Iran to force the country to go back to the negotiating table in better conditions for the United States, according to a new report.
Citing officials and people familiar with the situation, The Wall Street Journal detailed that the strikes, along with Trump's announced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, could seek to help break the current stalemate following failed talks in Pakistan during the weekend.
The outlet went on to note that a "full-fledged bombing campaign" is also a possibility, but Trump is leaning against it because of the impact it could have in the region.
However, the Gulf could still face renewed attacks anyway, as Iran is threatening to strike all ports if the U.S. moves forward with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
"Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for NO ONE," the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported Monday, according to The Associated Press.
The U.S. Central Command anticipated that the blockade will impact "vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas." It added that it will allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the strait but they won't be able to leave.
Trump announced the blockade on Sunday, adding that at "an appropriate moment, we are fully "LOCKED AND LOADED," and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran."
As for the negotiations in Islamabad, The New York Times detailed that Iran refused to open the key waterway, while U.S. refused to release some $27 billion in frozen revenue held abroad, which Tehran is seeking to fund reconstruction efforts after six weeks of war. The two sides also failed to reach an agreement about what should be done with some 900 pounds of enriched uranium in Iran.
Before departing Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. delegation "made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on, and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on, and we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and may have chosen not to accept our terms."
He went on to detail that the U.S. needs a more firm commitment from the Tehran regime about not developing a nuclear weapon to move towards an agreement.
"The simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven't seen that yet. We hope that we will," Vance said. He also claimed the delegation left negotiators and the Iranian delegation with an "understanding that is our final and best offer."
