Trump looks to extend blockade on Iran and Strait of Hormuz in high-stakes gamble to end nuclear program

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 06:33, 29 April 2026 | Updated: 06:33, 29 April 2026 Donald Trump wants to continue his blockade of the Iran and the Strait of Hormuz in a bet that they can get Tehran to fully concede its nuclear program.   With US-Iran relations having reached a stalemate with no end in sight, Trump has been plotting his next move between resuming bombing or economic pressure. During a meeting with key staffers in the Situation Room Monday, Trump favored an extended blockade over either a continuation of the strikes or walking away from Iran entirely, the Wall Street Journal reported.   The President believes the economic blockade represents the least risky of the options presented to him, officials said.  An official said that the blockade has decimated the Iranian economy and keeping it from being able to properly store oil.  'The president will only accept a deal that protects the national security of our country,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. She added that Operation Epic Fury has already met all of Trump's military objectives and that 'thanks to the successful blockade of Iranian ports, the United States has maximum leverage over the regime.' Trump has stopped short of strikes since an April 7 ceasefire was reached, though gas prices remain high and Trump's poll numbers remain on the wane.   Donald Trump wants to continue his blockade of the Iran and the Strait of Hormuz in a bet that they can get Tehran to fully concede its nuclear program The President believes the economic blockade represents the least risky of the options in front of him, officials said and that Iran's offer that could reopen the waterway before discussing its nuclear program was in bad faith However, peace talks shortly after the lull in fighting have yet to produce a teal and planned talks with Vice President JD Vance for this past weekend were canceled before they could even get started. On Tuesday, Trump claimed that Iran wants to open the Strait of Hormuz 'as soon as possible.' In a post to Truth Social, the US president said Iranian officials told the US 'that they are in a 'State of Collapse'.  'They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!)', he added.  Gas prices remain high after months of conflict as Americans prepare to go to the voting booths for the upcoming Midterm elections.  A source close to the President told Axios that 'a frozen conflict is the worst thing for Trump politically and economically.' JD Vance, meanwhile, has begun raising questions over Pete Hegseth's handling of the war by voicing concern with Trump that US stockpiles for missile systems are low, according to the Atlantic.  Two senior administration officials told the outlet that the Vice President has been raising skepticism to Trump about the Pentagon's information about the war.  A woman holds a poster depicting Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during an anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli rally Vehicles drive past a giant billboard reading 'The Strait of Hormuz remains closed' at the Revolution Square in Tehran Vance 'asks a lot of probing questions about our strategic planning,' a White House official told the magazine.  Despite Hegseth's claim that Iran's military has been obliterated, CBS News reports that US intelligence has found roughly half of the country's ballistic missile stockpiles and launch systems remain operational since the ceasefire began three weeks ago. Iran has also retained around 60 percent of its original naval forces, primarily the small speedboats it uses to seize oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately two-thirds of Iran's air force also remains usable against US forces, per the report.  Crucial munitions supply that would be essential in fighting potential conflicts with Russia or China have been depleted by more than half.  Hegseth was one of the few of Trump's cabinet officials to privately urge him to overthrow the regime in March, while Vance remained a skeptic.  Trump's core demand is that Iran freeze its nuclear program for at least 20 years and surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium. Iran, however, wants control over the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of all US sanctions crippling its economy. The divide between the two sides makes a deal extremely difficult to reach. The comments below have not been moderated. 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