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Trump Says Only Economic Pressure Can End Iran War
(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump privately told the Dutch king and queen that ending the war in Iran quickly hinges on intensifying economic pressure on Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing a confidential dinner conversation.
Trump characterized the escalation of pressure as the sole viable path to bringing Iran back to the negotiating table. Yet as Washington moves to enforce a unilateral naval blockade on Iranian ports, officials and analysts warned that it could take months — or considerably longer — before the economic pain inflicted by the blockade is sufficient to compel Tehran to make meaningful concessions.
Deadlocked Demands
According to senior administration officials, Trump has laid out two non-negotiable conditions for any prospective agreement: Iran must suspend uranium enrichment for a minimum of 20 years — though Trump is pressing for an indefinite halt — and all enriched uranium stockpiles must be physically removed from Iranian territory.
Tehran has responded with a far narrower counter-proposal, offering only a five-year freeze while firmly insisting that its existing uranium stockpile remain inside the country — a position that leaves the two sides at a significant impasse.
Allies Resist, Saudi Arabia Warns of Blowback
The blockade has failed to attract multilateral backing. European nations, including the Netherlands, have declined to join the U.S.-led maritime enforcement effort.
Saudi Arabia went further, urging Washington to scrap the plan entirely, citing fears that Iran could retaliate by activating proxy forces to choke off shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The warning comes as mounting domestic pressure over rising oil prices adds another layer of complexity for the U.S. president.
Talks Collapse, Vance on Standby
U.S. Central Command launched enforcement of the blockade on Monday, following the breakdown of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations held in Pakistan over the weekend — the first formal diplomatic engagement since the February 28 offensive commenced.
Vice President JD Vance, who led the initial — and ultimately unsuccessful — round of talks, remains ready to return to Pakistan should the administration determine that renewed dialogue could yield results, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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