Trump hails effectiveness of new strategy against Iran, ‘blockade scares them’

WASHINGTON, DC: After Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, reportedly on Pakistan’s request, the president appears to have found a spot to hit Iran where it hurts most.

This comes after President Trump confirmed the extension of the Iran ceasefire on Tuesday, April 21, hours before the two-week ceasefire was to expire. A day later, on Wednesday, April 22, he hinted that the next round of negotiations could resume as early as Friday.

Trump says blockade scares Iran

President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News, a day after extending the ceasefire indefinitely with Iran, said that there is “no time pressure” surrounding the ceasefire or urgently agreeing to a new date after the peace talks stalled on April 12.

Elaborating on what exactly appears to be helping push Iran onto the back foot, Trump said that it is not a bomb that scares the Iranian regime but the blockade.

The US Navy imposed a blockade of ships to and from Iranian ports after the peace talks between the two parties fell apart.

“The blockade scares them even more than the bombing,” Trump said of the Iranian regime. “They’ve been bombed for years but the blockade they hate.”

Trump also confirmed that the “3-5 day window” reported on the extension was “false” as the ceasefire has been extended indefinitely.

Attacked ships don't belong to the US

Trump also commented on Iran’s attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the ships fired at didn't belong to the US.

“They were not U.S. ships,” Trump said, adding that he would be keeping an eye on the situation.

Further speaking on when the war could come to an end, Trump said that there was “no time frame” or “pressure” as he is trying to “get a good deal.”

“People say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true,” Trump stated, adding that the administration wanted to “get a good deal for the American people.”

Trump announces ceasefire extension

The ceasefire extension was announced hours before the deadline of the two-week temporary ceasefire announced on April 7. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the ceasefire would remain in place indefinitely, until Iranian leaders present a unified proposal and ongoing discussions are concluded.

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump said.

Within hours of this announcement, Tehran dismissed it as a trap and declined to attend the next round of talks.

However, talking to Fox, Trump also said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was a smart man and that he expected “he will still be there when talks get underway again.”