Trump Moves to Stifle Iran’s Oil Trade as Regime Skips Islamabad Talks Amid Infighting
The WSJ: “The blockade alone could cost Iran more than $400 million a day, according to some estimates.”
President Trump has extended the naval blockade of Iran after the regime decided to skip the peace talks scheduled to be held in Pakistan. With the two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, President Trump extended the truce indefinitely while enforcing a maritime blockade to stifle Tehran’s global oil exports.
Iranian negotiators failed to appear for the second round of negotiations in Islamabad amid reports of infighting within the regime. “Iran’s leadership remained divided over whether to participate in a new round of peace talks,” Axios reported Tuesday.
The ceasefire extension is intended to give the battered regime a ‘short window’ to get its act together and respond to the U.S. offer. As Axios wrote, quoting U.S. Officials on Wednesday, “President Trump is giving Iran’s warring factions a short window to unify behind a coherent counter-offer — or the ceasefire he extended Tuesday ends.”
With most of Iran’s pre-war leadership eliminated, President Trump noted that the remnant of the regime’s leadership was “seriously fractured.”
“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,” the president said in a statement released by the White House
“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” The White House statement added.
STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP: pic.twitter.com/ATdRyY1qqK
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2026
According to President Trump, the regime was pleading for the restoration of oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. blockade is costing Iran half a billion dollars a day, he suggested.
“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!),” President Trump posted on Truth Social.
“They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face.’ People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately,’ he concluded. “But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!
Latest Trump post:
Iran doesn't want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they… pic.twitter.com/hxjwKlHymm
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 22, 2026
With the blockade in place, the Trump administration is exerting maximum economic pressure on the regime’s ability to fund the war.
Unable to ship oil through the Kharg Island facility, the regime would be forced to shut down its oil wells — a process not easily reversible, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent assured on Wednesday. Around 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports are handled through the Persian Gulf island.
“In a matter of days, Kharg Island storage will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in. Constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary revenue lifelines,” Secretary Bessent wrote on X.
The campaign of “Economic Fury” will “systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds,” he added.
As @POTUS has made clear, the United States Navy will continue the blockade of Iranian ports. In a matter of days, Kharg Island storage will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in. Constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 21, 2026
The “Operation Economic Fury,” as The Wall Street Journal dubbed it, could cost Tehran an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars each day. The campaign incorporates a range of measures, from a naval blockade to sanctions that could cripple Iran’s oil industry.
The WSJ reported Tuesday:
The U.S. is expected to keep up the economic pressure on Iran, even as President Trump says he will hold off on resuming military strikes for now, according to U.S. officials. The pressure campaign, dubbed “Operation Economic Fury” by administration officials, involves sanctions, a blockade of Iranian ports and an effort to seize Iran-linked ships in waters around the world.
The blockade alone could cost Iran more than $400 million a day, according to some estimates. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. troops in the Middle East, has said it is halting economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea, which fuels 90% of Iran’s economy. The Treasury Department has also announced a series of new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil-smuggling network, proxy groups and weaponry pipeline.
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Comments
Just nuke that cesspool so Israel can have peace, already. I’m tired of waiting.
🙄
Why should the USA do that on behalf of Israel (or anyone else) when Israel has its own nukes to use should they believe it necessary?
Nukes are off the table. If we were to nuke Iran, that would give Russian and China license to nuke any country that doesn’t have nukes. Do you want to live in that world?
So many people who believe that we can keep lefties from atrocity simply by not committing atrocity first,.
“Let’s not pack the Supreme Court, because then Democrats will do it.”
Binky, Democrats are going to do it first, without thinking twice.
Have conservatives learned NOTHING from Joe Biden and Abigail Spanberger?
So once again Trump chickens out and allows Iran more time for their shenanigans despite his bombastic pronouncements that he will destroy the country if they don’t unconditionally surrender. Is there a point at which Trump will do anything or will he allow Iran to drag this on until the Nov. 2026 midterm elections where the “fractured Iranian leadership” are hoping that the democrats retake the House and Senate and end the war?
They are playing for time. Every Senator that goes on tv and praises Iran and condemns Trump like “Senator Haw Haw” from Ct. did is a small win for the regime.
Of course they are. That’s what they always do when they paint themselves into a political corner with no way out. And Trump is falling for it hook, line, and sinker. The “fractured Iranian leadership” isn’t going to suffer any economic hardship, that will be left for the citizens of Iran, and are hoping that they can outlast Trump’s bombastic nonsense until the Nov. 2026 U.S. midterms elections where it’s likely the democrats will retake the House and Senate and end the war.
“Iranian negotiators failed to appear for the second round of negotiations in Islamabad… The ceasefire extension is intended to give the battered regime a ‘short window’ to get its act together and respond to the U.S. offer.”
Behavior that you reward, you’ll get more of.
Oh and look, the serial downvoter has downvoted my comment but doesn’t have the balls to identify themselves or post their opinion of the matter. Just that wonderful anonymous downvote because I criticized Saint Donnie the Trump for his inconsistent messaging to the Iranian leadership.
Who ever that person is, we thank you for your service 🤣🤣
This is the modern left.
One minute they are getting all wet and moist at the thought of civilians being killed in military action and then the next they are getting all wet and moist because apparently not killing civilians is a bad thing🙄
This also highlights the lefts lack of morals. Not that long ago the regime the left now fully supports with every fibre of their being was killing somewhere around FORTY THOUSAND Persians for the crime of wanting freedom. I mean, let that sink in about who the left is.
They have backed themselves in to a corner where rational thought, let alone rational discussion is impossible when it involves OMB.
(Office of Management and Budget? Ow My Balls? Operation Somethingsomething Bfury?)
That’s a little harsh. I do agree that I don’t see any benefit from extending the deadline. Bluster and mouthing off as the ‘bull in a China shop’ hyperbole are fine so long as they remain credible threats. When there’s more threats than actions though the whole perception ‘he’s an unhinged madman who really will do X’ becomes tougher to sustain.
The surviving Iranian leadership is no less fractured today than yesterday and I doubt there’s real hope of unity to be created by another extension. Maybe I could see granting an amorphous timeline something like ‘they have no more than 5 days to sit down and talk with us for their last chance to avoid devastation’. Then if we don’t hear anything serious go blow things up on day 3. That’s not what happened. No whining from Trump Admin about War Powers Act limitations getting traction if burns through the 60 day ‘action phase’ +30 day withdrawal phase timeline.
Bottom line is Trump willingly chose to commit himself to two alternate endings:
1. Unconditional surrender of the Iranian regime
2. Destroying their dams, bridges, power generation, water treatment, internal pipelines and so on. ‘A whole Civilization will end…’. He created that expectation and he either follows through to meet it or he comes up short.
That’s what we are expecting b/c that’s the scenario Trump laid out. We’ll happily accept a combo where we blow up Iranian infrastructure then they unconditionally surrender but something less than those isn’t acceptable.
‘Chicken out” has become trite. Try something new.
They cant try anything new. They have nothing. They are nothing.
I’m sure that alternative phrases are being run through focus groups right now.
Avoid
Back down
Back out
Back pedal
Blow off
Cancel
Cop out
Get cold feet
Go back on
Make concessions
Renege
Weasel out
Yield
Pick your term. But this simple fact is that Trump doesn’t have the balls to invade and destroy Iranian infrastructure as he has threatened to do on numerous occasions before the Nov. 2026 U.S. midterm elections. So we get endless rounds of negotiations and ceasefires that lead nowhere as the “fractured Iranian leadership” delays, and delays and delays any meaningful agreement.
Mental midgets like you started out complaining that Trump was bombing Iran, then complained that he stopped and switched to a naval blockade tactic. Make up your mind 😉
Try again, a-hole. Never complained about Trump bombing Iran. Never happened. If anything I thought Trump should have bombed them into oblivion at the outset and been done with it. So quit your attempts at putting words in my mouth that I didn’t say. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
eot
The blockade is doing more harm to the IRGC than bombs. They will soon have to irrepressibly cap the oil wells… killing not only the well but potentially the oil field. The damage is “silent” but it’s nature siding with Trump. Time… is on Trump’s side on this. The real war must be fought on the ground by Iranians against the IRGC….unleashing pent up hatred to its best.
“irreversibly”….. die autocorrect…die!
Nope. Time isn’t on Trump’s side as he’s got the Nov. 2026 U.S. midterm elections coming up soon. And if the democrats retake the House and Senate then that will be game over for Trump as they will end the war. And the closer it gets to the midterm elections the harder it will be for him to take action. So he’s got to do it now. No more pointless negotiations. No more pointless ceasefires.
Are you seriously this simple?
This is going to cause the IRGC to start lining up citizens by the thousands for public execution televised for the world to see. Newly arrive Shia militia will do it on behalf of the IRGC.
Even if that were to happen guess who the left would continue to support.
‘guess who the left would’… Not the left. Democrats. That is the name of our political enemy.
“Iran’s leadership (…)”
…which is???
…seriously fractured. Did you not read the tweet?
Mostly servicing goats in hell
Seems to me one of the biggest issues at this point is getting internet availability to the populace. There can be no rebellion without communication. I assume that we are working hard on this problem, but I don’t hear anything about it (which is actually refreshing). Where is Elon?
“There can be no rebellion without communication.”
Or arms.
If nothing else, Iran is a great example of why we can never let our government take our right to bear arms away from us.
I think if the Iranian populace had arms, things for that regime would be a lot different, but without arms, they don’t stand a chance.
One of the first or second or third things D’s will do if they take control is to deny us our right to bear arms. They are dead serious about achieving their objectives: the Constitution and Bill of Rights mean nothing to them.
10 years ago I would have called BS on that. Not today. It’s a real worry I have.
Totalitarian brothers… Islamo-Marxists….. The Dems have sold their souls and won’t get them back as they suppose.
It’s more difficult, but not impossible. I seem to recall our country rebelling against the British back when communication took weeks via opinion pieces in the newspaper.
The difference is that King George didn’t have the lightspeed comms either.
The parity in Iran is quite different.
President Trump is giving a master class in how to deal with the irgc. Once the storage tanks are full they have to shutdown the wells. It would take months/years to restart them. At the same time China is having to buy oil at market prices instead of $35-50 per barrel they are now paying $90+ per barrel. We just concluded a defense agreement with Indonesia. We now patrol the Strait of Malacca where 80% of oil destined for China must transit. Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca are all under US control. All choke points for China import of oil and commercial exports. And look…no boots on the ground to disrupt Iran’s oil shipments.
I don’t live in Trump’s head, but hope that he is playing his cards close to his chest with a plan that will put an end to the monstrous regime in Iran. Whatever he does, it will be a surprise and likely very BIG and the Democrats wlll certainly go crazy.
hmmm
why would a decimated regime want to skip the chance to talk?
well as we know the blmplo armies arent much up for debates…they act with violence knowing that the good people will say alright,,give in to them already
IRGC is stalling for mid-term elections. They are hardline and prepared to starve the population for 6 months if necessary. IRGC will hoard food and ration it to general population like hamas did in gaza. IRGC is prepared to sacrifice 1 million iranian citizens in order to preserve their position of power.
How many Americans have been and are continuing to be sacrificed by the Dems?
Trump ought to bomb one thing as a demonstration to get their attention. Not sure what I would pick – maybe a power plant, Then he could extended the deadline if he wishes,
This is not what I would do though. As I said I would concentrate on Iranian leadership, militia rank and file, and the mullahs and bomb them,
Air-fuel bomb a port where the small attack boats are harbored.
That’s not a bad idea, at least if we know where they are harbored.
Bomb Kharg island’s power plant.
He already sunk their navy and destroyed their nuclear weapons facilities. Cut their international missile capability down to a fraction of its prior strength. Took out dozens of senior officials including the leader of the country.
I’m pretty sure that he has their attention already.
There’s a reason the beatings have to “CONTINUE until morale improves.”
As Santanyana observed, so many people just can’t learn from history.
There’s a reason the beatings have to “CONTINUE until morale improves.”
As Santanyana observed, so many people just can’t learn from history.
Substack yesterday and LI today — I think scanning a few malware tracking sites is on today’s card for me.
Obviously, the IRGC believes that they can just outwait Trump, and Trump will have to stop because of political pressure.
Look, folks, I am as down on the IRGC and the Iranian regime as anyone, but I don’t think this calls for the kinds of actions that will deepen the population’s misery any more than necessary.
Keep the blockade in place. Destroy the power plant that keeps Kharg Island’s pumps running. That will put the IGRC’s back to the wall very quickly. And do a better job of patrolling overhead with A-10s, Apaches, and Blackhawks.
From everything I have picked up, Iran’s economy was in bad shape before this started, and now is in really bad shape. Keep them from filling the oil tanks and transferring what’s there to any tankers, and keep anything from going into or out of the ports, and it’s all she wrote.
Soon, the IRGC will have to capitulate, whether they want to or not. I see only downside in wrecking any more civilian infrastructure than is absolutely necessary. This whole thing will be over with pretty soon, and I for one would much, MUCH rather have the United States of America seen by Iranians as liberators rather than as conquerors.
Your argument is to destroy things that hurt the regime more than the people. I sure don’t have a problem with that. My argument is that destroying absolutely nothing while waiting on the regime to do… nothing… sends the wrong message.
I very much agree with you about “destroying absolutely nothing.” Trump’s vacillation is driving me a little bit crazy. It sure looks to me like this can get wrapped up pretty quick. I really don’t understand what the hell he’s waiting for. Whoever’s running the show over there is playing around, and my not wanting to create more misery for the people there is in no way a desire to pussyfoot around. Not one single bit.