US President Donald Trump is considering resuming a limited military operation on Iranian targets as a response to the failure in negotiations with Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
According to the report, US officials have considered an operation centered on specific targets to gain additional leverage against the regime in an eventual new round of talks.
The officials also said that, even if the option is unlikely in the short-term, Trump is also considering the full resumption of the bombing campaign against the Iranian regime.
The main factor against this idea, the report noted, is the risk of further destabilization in the region and Trump’s aversion to prolonged operations.
US to begin enforcing Strait of Hormuz blockade from Monday
The report comes as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that it would begin implementing a complete maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET (5 p.m. in Israel), in accordance with US President Donald Trump’s decision.
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM announced, adding that vessels transitioning from and to non-Iranian ports would not be stopped.
The announcement also said that a Notice to Mariners broadcast would be sent before the blockade effectively begins, with vessels urged to contact US forces using “bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.”
Trump said on Monday that, after the failure during the first round of negotiations between the US and Iran, the American Navy would block the Strait “effective immediately,” with all ships coming and going from Iranian ports being stopped.