“THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE. THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED.”
That was President Donald Trump on Truth Social on April 17, announcing that even after Iran said it would “open” the Strait of Hormuz, that the thing that really got the strait open—the U.S. Navy blockade of Iran—would continue until the negotiations with Iran were 100 percent complete.
In a separate post, the President said that would include retrieving any and all already-enriched uranium from its now devastated nuclear weapons program that was obliterated in Operation Midnight Hammer last June: “The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,’ created by our great B2 Bombers – No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form.”
In other words, one way or another, regardless of what happens elsewhere in the region, including Lebanon, the already-enriched uranium is coming out. And until it does the blockade will continue, the President said.
And, the denuclearization was non-negotiable and not subject to the recently agreed to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire: “This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezbo[l]lah situation in an appropriate manner. Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
So as to be perfectly clear, in a separate post, Trump repeated he was not making any promises about Lebanon: “Again! This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!”
This is obviously tied to Iran’s attempts to tie the strait’s opening to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
Instead, the President was tying the end of the war to the end of the nuclear material, which he has said is the most important part.
In the meantime, Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz was being cleared of any mines by Iran and the U.S.: “Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!”
And that this would never happen again: “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”
It’s beginning to sound like the “unconditional surrender” the President had demanded more than a month ago.
Trump also took the time to thank Pakistan, which helped to mediate the ceasefire between the U.S., Israel and Iran on April 7: “Thank you to Pakistan and its Great Prime Minister and Field Marshall, two fantastic people!!!” And Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, for sticking by the U.S. in the conflict: “Thank you to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar for your great bravery and help!”
But no thanks for NATO, which did nothing to help: “Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”
At this late stage, it sounds like Iran might be doing more to help end the conflict than NATO, which would just as soon would have enabled Iran to continue on its path to a nuclear weapon to hold the global economy hostage with. Weakness is provocative.
Instead, President Trump made the difficult decision to end this conflict once and for all, last June and again in February. And even now, to keep the blockade going until the deal is 100 percent ratified.
In so doing, the President stuck to his long-term position supporting Israel (not new) and opposing Iran’s nuclear ambitions (not new) — in fact, both positions were featured in his 2015 announcement speech and stump speeches throughout 2016.
But some of the President’s and U.S. “allies” cared more about opposing Israel than supporting Trump and the U.S., that is very clear. Life is full of choices. They should have trusted the President. He will remember — that, is also very clear. In the meantime, keep the pressure up, Mr. President and see this through to the end — one way, or another.
Robert Romano is the Executive Director of Americans for Limited Government Foundation.
