Yesterday, President Trump put out a statement in which he declared that he was lifting the naval blockade of Iran but that there’s a number of things Iran “must” do. “Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions. All water mines (bombs), if any, will be terminated,” he said. “Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of ‘heading home!’”
Furthermore, “The enriched material, sometimes referred to as ‘Nuclear Dust,’ ..., will be unearthed by the United States (which, it is agreed, is the only Country, along with China, with the mechanical capability of doing so!), in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED,” he continued. “No money will be exchanged, until further notice. Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to. I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination.”
After issuing the statement, Trump went into a White House Situation Room meeting at which press reports indicated he would decide whether or not to approve the 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran. The meeting reportedly went on for two hours but the White House issued no statement afterwards.
The MOU has not been agreed to and there’s no indication from U.S. Central Command that they’ve stopped enforcing the blockade. “U.S. forces continue to enforce the blockade against Iran,” Centcom said on X just before Trump’s statement. “As of May 29, 115 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure no commerce enters or leaves Iranian ports.”
