Trump weighs limited strikes on Iran as Hormuz blockade fails to break talks deadlock: Report

US President Donald Trump is considering resuming limited military strikes on Iran, as well as a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as his administration seeks to break the impasse in negotiations. Wall StreetJournal It was reported, citing officials and people familiar with the matter.

Options began being reviewed on Sunday, hours after US-Iran talks in Pakistan collapsed. Officials say a broader bombing campaign is still on the table WSJ This appears less likely due to the risk of further destabilizing the region and Trump’s reluctance to be drawn into a protracted conflict.

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Trump has also explored the possibility of a temporary blockade as he pressures allies to take a longer-term role in escorting commercial ships through the strategic waterway.

Talks collapse, red lines harden

Negotiations in Pakistan led by Vice President J.D. Vance failed after Iran refused to give up its nuclear program. U.S. officials have since set strict conditions for any future deal, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, ending uranium enrichment, dismantling nuclear facilities, handing over highly enriched uranium and halting support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Despite the collapse, Trump hinted that he remained open to diplomacy. Speaking on Fox News, he warned of potential strikes on critical Iranian infrastructure while expressing reluctance. “I hate to do this, but what’s very easy to hit is their water, their desalination plants, their power generation plants,” he said.
Iranian officials spoke in a more measured tone. Reza Amiri Moghadam, a senior member of the Tehran delegation, described the Islamabad talks as the beginning of a process that could turn into a “sustainable framework” if trust increases.Also read: US military says it will blockade Iranian ports starting Monday after ceasefire talks end without agreement

Blockade seen as tool of pressure but risks mount

Some analysts and former officials see the blockade as the most viable option currently available, according to the report. Matthew Kroenig, a former Pentagon official, said the strategy could significantly increase pressure on Tehran by targeting oil exports, which account for a significant portion of government revenues.

“We saw that this blockade strategy worked mainly on Venezuela,” Kroenig told the publication, adding that it could force Iran into difficult choices.

However, this approach carries significant risks. U.S. officials have warned that naval forces operating in the bottleneck could face missile or drone attacks with minimal warning. The report stated that Iran has historically resisted economic pressure and remains defiant despite years of sanctions and recent US and Israeli attacks.

Trump also faces competing pressures at home and abroad. As disruptions in the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil supply, shook energy markets, allies called for decisive action. Rising fuel prices domestically and war fatigue among voters are creating political challenges ahead of the midterm elections.

Economic concerns are increasingly shaping the debate. Steve Moore was quoted as saying that ensuring the security of the strait was critical to prevent wider economic impacts and warned that failure to take action could drag the global economy into recession.

At the same time, some former officials think there is room for diplomacy. Fred Fleitz told WSJ Iran’s participation in Pakistan talks suggests a deal remains possible, supporting Trump’s assessment that Tehran’s stance may be weakening.

Still, U.S. officials and analysts warned that every option involves compromises; It warned that escalation could lead to deeper military and economic costs and potentially limit Iran’s influence over both its nuclear ambitions and control of the strait. WSJ report.