Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated on the 19th (local time) that the U.S. negotiation delegation would arrive in Islamabad on the 20th.
In a post on his Truth Social account that day, President Trump noted, “The delegation is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, tomorrow evening for negotiations.”
President Trump added, “We are proposing a very fair and reasonable negotiation. I hope they accept this offer. If they refuse, the U.S. will destroy all power plants and bridges in Iran. We won’t pretend to be nice anymore.”
In an interview with U.S. online media outlet Axios on the same day, President Trump expressed optimism about the outcome of the negotiations.
He stated, “I feel okay. The basic framework for an agreement has been established. I see a very high possibility of completing (the negotiations).”
Regarding Iran’s re-blockade of the Hormuz Strait, Trump said, “They would quickly and easily collapse. If they don’t accept this negotiation, I will consider it an honor to complete what other presidents should have done to Iran over the past 47 years with my own hands.”
He argued, “Recently, Iran announced it would close the strait, which is quite strange. It is already effectively closed with our blockade measures.”
Trump added, “They are unknowingly helping us, and they are the ones losing $500 million a day due to the blockage.”
Iran reopened the Hormuz Strait in line with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, but the Iranian military re-blocked it within a day, citing ongoing U.S. maritime blockades against Iran.
The U.S. announced that it intercepted an Iranian cargo ship attempting to break through its maritime blockade and subsequently took the ship under U.S. control.
Earlier, President Trump explained on Truth Social that a 900-foot (about 275m) long Iranian cargo ship named “Tuskar,” weighing as much as an aircraft carrier, tried and failed to breach the U.S. maritime blockade.
He continued, “The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer, Spruance, intercepted Tuskar in the Gulf of Oman and issued a legitimate warning to stop, but the Iranian crew did not comply, leading our naval ship to puncture the engine room to bring it to a halt.”
President Trump used somewhat indirect language, but the circumstances suggest that the U.S. Navy fired upon and captured the Iranian cargo ship.
It is interpreted that President Trump may have undertaken this operation to maximize pressure on Iran ahead of the end of the “two-week ceasefire” on the 21st. This move also responds to the Iranian military’s re-blockade of the Hormuz Strait and their attacks on shipping vessels.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), this is the first reported instance of U.S. forces using force, even though they had previously turned around over 20 Iranian ships attempting to sail against U.S. blockades after departing from Iranian ports.