Washington, April 22: The United States administration maintained Tuesday that a naval blockade of Iranian ports will soon force a diplomatic resolution by physically halting the nation’s oil production. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Kharg Island, which handles nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, is expected to reach maximum storage capacity within days. Officials affirmed that once storage is exhausted, Iran will be forced to shut down its “fragile oil wells,” severing the government’s primary revenue stream.
The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz follows the collapse of previous negotiations and the eruption of hostilities on February 28. While a temporary, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was set to expire, President Donald Trump declared an extension to allow Iranian leadership to present a unified proposal. Trump maintained that the military will remain in a state of readiness and continue the maritime shutdown until discussions conclude.
“I have directed our military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able,” Trump stated on Truth Social. He affirmed that the extension was granted following requests from Pakistani leadership to facilitate a potential agreement. However, the President also noted that recent maritime skirmishes constituted a “total violation” of the truce, asserting that the route would remain restricted as long as Iranian forces continued to target vessels.
Treasury officials declared that the strategy of “Economic Fury” will persist to degrade Tehran’s ability to move funds. Secretary Bessent affirmed that any vessel facilitating covert trade risks immediate U.S. sanctions. In response, Tehran has labeled the blockade an “act of piracy” and has maintained its own counter-blockade of the Strait, stating it will not reopen the vital waterway until the U.S. naval presence is withdrawn from its ports.
