- Donald Trump has directed his team to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, as talks to end the conflict remain at an impasse.
- US officials state that Trump believes maintaining the current state of limbo will damage Iran's finances and weaken its leverage in negotiations.
- The ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports and vessels is estimated to be costing Tehran as much as $435 million per day.
- A senior US official indicated that the blockade is significantly impacting Iran's economy, with the regime struggling to store unsold oil and facing potential permanent losses from well shutdowns.
- Trump had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's latest peace proposal, which aimed to separate nuclear discussions from efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
IN FULL