#strait-of-hormuz
18 entries with this tag
The Full Text of Trump's 14-Point Iran Deal: Lift the Blockade, Waive Oil Sanctions, Unfreeze Assets, Pay $300 Billion — and Iran Keeps Its Missiles, Its Proxies, and Its Nuclear Program
A senior U.S. official read the 14-point "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" to reporters on a call Wednesday. The full text reveals: the U.S. will immediately lift its naval blockade, waive all Iranian oil sanctions, unfreeze all restricted Iranian assets, commit to ending all sanctions (UN, IAEA, and unilateral), and fund a $300 billion reconstruction plan — in exchange for Iran reiterating it "will never produce nuclear weapons" (a promise it already made under the JCPOA) and reopening the Strait of Hormuz (which was open before the war). Iran's missile program is not mentioned. Its proxy networks are not mentioned. Its enriched uranium stockpile is deferred to a "final agreement." Sen. Murphy: "Make no mistake: these are Iran's terms. They made one single concession — opening the Strait. And it's not even a concession because the Strait was open before the war." The Institute for the Study of War: Iran "emerged from the conflict in a stronger strategic position." Trump withdrew from Obama's JCPOA calling it the "worst deal ever." He then started a war, killed over 1,700 Iranian civilians, and signed a deal that gives Iran more than the JCPOA did — without addressing the missiles he said justified leaving the JCPOA in the first place.
Iran Says It's Not Charging "Tolls" on the Strait of Hormuz — Just "Service Fees" of $2 Million Per Ship. Trump Calls It "A Beautiful Thing"
Iran announced it will charge up to $2 million per vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz — but insists these are "service fees," not "tolls." Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei: "We do not charge tolls," but "services will be provided" that "require charging fees." The IRGC-linked Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established May 5, processes clearances requiring 40+ categories of vessel data, paid in yuan or bitcoin — no dollars accepted. Iran's parliament codified the system on March 30-31, before any ceasefire. The June 14 MOU declares Hormuz "toll free" — but only for 60 days, after which Iran says fees apply. Trump initially said "they better not be" charging, then called it "a beautiful thing" and proposed a "joint venture." Naval War College's James Holmes: "There is no provision in international law for a coastal state charging for passage through a natural waterway, whether you call it a toll or a fee." No post-1945 precedent exists for mandatory fees on a natural strait. Oman refuses to impose tolls on its side. The IRGC declared the strait "will never return to its former state." Experts warn: if Hormuz gets a toll booth, so could Malacca, Gibraltar, and Bab el-Mandeb.
"If We Need to Negotiate with Bombs, We'll Negotiate with Bombs": Hegseth Pledges Strikes on Key Facilities as U.S. Hits Iran for Second Straight Night
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, leaving CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, told reporters: "If we need to negotiate with bombs, we'll negotiate with bombs. And we're very good at it." The U.S. launched strikes on Iran for a second consecutive night — 49 Tomahawk missiles hitting targets as close as 40 miles from Tehran. The strikes destroyed Iran's water reservoirs in Hormozgan Province, leaving 20,000 people without drinking water in 50°C heat. Weapons experts identified fragments as U.S. GBU-39 munitions. Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Trump from the Situation Room — with Vance, Kushner, and Witkoff — told Fox News: "If Iran doesn't agree to a deal, we'll bomb the shit out of them tomorrow night." He threatened to target bridges and power plants. CPI hit 4.2% — a three-year high driven by war-fueled energy costs. Brent crude: $94/barrel. The April 8 ceasefire is functionally dead. The war Trump said would last four to five weeks is now at fifteen.
Iran Halts All Negotiations With the U.S. and Vows to "Completely Block" the Strait of Hormuz
Iran suspended all mediated exchanges with the U.S. and announced it will pursue a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — plus activate the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint — after accusing the U.S. of ceasefire violations through Israel's continued operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Oil surged 7.7% on the news. Trump's response: "I don't care" if negotiations are over, and the talks had "started to get very boring." The deal that was on the table — unrestricted Hormuz shipping, mine removal, blockade lifting, sanctions waivers — now appears dead. Three months into a war that had no defensible cause, the strait remains closed, oil is up 30%, and the president says he's bored.
Trump Calls Reporting "Virtual TREASON" After Intelligence Shows Iran Retained 70% of Its Missiles
U.S. intelligence assessments revealed Iran retained ~75% of its mobile launchers and ~70% of its missile stockpiles despite weeks of bombing — and restored access to 30 of 33 Hormuz missile sites. Trump called the reporting "virtual TREASON" and accused journalists of "aiding the enemy." The DOJ had already subpoenaed Wall Street Journal reporters for their Iran war coverage.
Hegseth Fires Navy Secretary Phelan — During a Naval Blockade of Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan "effective immediately" — while the U.S. Navy is enforcing an active blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The reason: Phelan communicated directly with Trump, which Hegseth saw as bypassing him. Three weeks earlier, Hegseth also fired the Army Chief of Staff during the same war.
Iran Fires on 3 Ships, Seizes 2 in Hormuz — Won't Talk While U.S. Blockade Continues
Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, causing heavy damage to the MSC Francesca's bridge. Trump extended the ceasefire — but Iran says no more talks until the U.S. lifts its own blockade. The deadlock deepens: both sides are closing the strait, ships are being seized, and the diplomatic channel is dead.
Strait of Hormuz Closed — Again — After Being Opened, Blockaded, Reopened, and Re-Closed
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on April 18 — one day after declaring it open — because the U.S. refuses to lift its own blockade. Iranian gunboats fired on an Indian tanker. A container ship was hit by a rocket. Nobody can keep track of whether the strait is open anymore, because it has been closed, tolled, ceasefire-opened, U.S.-blockaded, reopened, and re-closed in seven weeks.
Trump Now Blockades the Strait He Threatened to End a Civilization to Reopen
After peace talks collapsed, Trump ordered a full U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — "any and all ships" in either direction. Iran had been letting tankers through for a $2M toll. Trump spent weeks threatening to end Iran's civilization over the strait's partial closure. Now the U.S. is closing it itself.
Vance After 21 Hours in Islamabad: "They Have Chosen Not to Accept Our Terms"
Vice President JD Vance — lead U.S. negotiator — announced the Iran talks are dead after a 21-hour marathon in Islamabad. Both delegations going home. No nuclear deal. No Lebanon ceasefire. No Strait of Hormuz reopened. Six weeks of war, 13 dead, $25 billion spent — to end at "they chose not to accept our terms."
Ceasefire Lasted Hours: Israel Killed 254 in Lebanon, Iran Suspends Hormuz Deal
Hours after the ceasefire was announced, Israel launched its largest Lebanon attack of the war — 254 killed, 1,165 wounded in central Beirut. Netanyahu said Lebanon "isn't covered." Iran accused Israel of violating the deal and is suspending Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic.
Iran Ceasefire: A "Temporary Win" That Cost Thousands of Lives, $1B+ in Equipment, and U.S. Credibility
After 6 weeks, $25B+, 13 U.S. dead, $1B+ in destroyed equipment, and threatening to end "a whole civilization" — Trump agreed to a 2-week ceasefire if Iran reopens the Strait. Iran declared "victory." The nuclear program is intact. The Strait gets a $2M-per-ship Iranian toll.
"A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight": Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran as Deadline Passes
Trump posted: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will." His fifth Strait of Hormuz deadline. The IEA called the crisis worse than 1973, 1979, and 2002 combined.
"Open the Fuckin' Strait, You Crazy Bastards — Praise Be to Allah": Trump's Easter Rant and Missed Deadlines
On Easter morning, Trump threatened to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges: "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell. Praise be to Allah." It was his fourth missed Hormuz deadline. Tehran accused him of planning war crimes.
Trump Claims Iran War "Nearing Completion" — Then Promises 2-3 More Weeks of "Extremely Hard" Strikes
In a prime-time address on Day 33, Trump said the war is "nearing completion" and Iran's military is destroyed. In the same speech, he promised 2-3 more weeks of "extremely hard" hits. Iran denies requesting a ceasefire. Reuters says 2/3 of Iran's missiles are still intact.
Trump Willing to End Iran War Without Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
WSJ: Trump told aides he'll end the war even if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed — leaving the world's most critical oil chokepoint blocked. He wants allies to clean up the mess. Leavitt confirmed reopening Hormuz is "not a core objective."
Iran Military Mocks Trump with "You're Fired" as 15-Point Peace Plan Rejected
Iran's military spokesperson told Trump "You are fired" and mocked him for "negotiating with yourself." Iran rejected the 15-point peace plan as "maximalist" and issued its own 5 conditions. The 82nd Airborne was ordered to deploy as Trump declared the war "won."
Launched Iran War During Peace Talks; Allies Refused to Help
Despite a "breakthrough" in Iran nuclear talks, Trump and Israel launched airstrikes killing thousands. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. When Trump demanded NATO help, allies refused. Germany: "This is not our war."