Americans are once again setting a dangerous trap under the pretext of a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz... however, after the American failure in the Persian Gulf, they are clearly seeking an exit strategy from the crisis... "If you can't solve a problem, enlarge it." This advice, often attributed to Dwight Eisenhower, seems to be Trump's strategy to exit the problem he cannot solve with Iran... It is obvious that on one hand, US Vice President J.D. Vance declares that the US government believes the objectives of the military operation against Iran have been achieved and can now proceed to end the conflict, but on the other hand, they have—again—sent the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln within 200 km of the Iranian coast. Meanwhile, through deceitful means, they are attempting failed electronic warfare tactics to control the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, while there is information that a new round of contacts will take place on April 16, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan, US Vice President J.D. Vance states that the US wants to "completely remove Uranium from Iran" and assume total control of the material... The statements and the events unfolding on the front prove that a dangerous trap is being set, but the Iranians have taken their measures both at a military level and in terms of resupply logistics. According to Baghdad Today, Iran prepared for a blockade and pre-positioned dozens of tankers at sea, carrying supplies sufficient for 80 days. Experts estimate that these "offshore storage facilities" could hold up to 170 million barrels of oil.
J.D. Vance to Fox: We achieved our goals, we are ending the military operation in Iran
The US government believes that the objectives of the military operation against Iran have been met and can now move toward terminating the conflict, stated US Vice President J.D. Vance. "I firmly believe we are in a situation where our goals have been achieved. We can begin to wind this down," he told Fox News. "I would prefer this to be concluded through successful negotiations," the Vice President added.
J.D. Vance to Fox: The US wants to remove Uranium from Iran
America demands that Iran abandon its capacity to enrich uranium, stated US Vice President J.D. Vance. "It is one thing for the Iranians to say they aren't going to get nuclear weapons. It is another for us to put in place the mechanism that will ensure this doesn't happen. Part of that is, of course, ensuring they do not have the capacity to enrich uranium," he told Fox News. "We have made it clear that it is absolutely necessary to see the nuclear material come out of Iran," J.D. Vance continued. According to him, Washington is concerned about Iran's nuclear program, even though Tehran says it has no plans to create nuclear weapons. "Therefore, we would like to completely withdraw this material from the country so that the United States has control over it," the US Vice President emphasized.
The Atlantic: New round of US-Iran contacts being prepared for April 16
The next round of direct Iran-US talks in Islamabad is expected on Thursday, April 16, noted Arash Azizi, a columnist for The Atlantic, who claims to have received the information from "a source in Tehran."
Washington Post: The US wants the war to end, Trump believed Iran would surrender - Iran's Qalibaf impressed
"If you can't solve a problem, enlarge it." This advice, often attributed to Dwight Eisenhower, seems to be Trump's strategy, reported David Ignatius, a prominent columnist for the Washington Post. In his article, he mentioned several important points from the Iran-US negotiations: After speaking with individuals close to the negotiations, my impression is that the deadlock in Islamabad does not necessarily mean a return to war. The siege is undoubtedly a pressure tactic, but it is not primarily military in nature. Trump has little desire for further armed conflict. He knows the potential benefits are limited and the "collateral risk"—in the words of financial traders—is too high. The American side expects that despite the stalemate in Islamabad, contacts will likely continue through Pakistani mediators. Trump's ultimate goal remains "exiting the crisis." "If you can't solve a problem, enlarge it." This advice, often attributed to Dwight Eisenhower, seems to be Trump's strategy. The talks in Islamabad began with a tough stance. US Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf outlined their red lines. But after hours of talks, Qalibaf impressed the American team and was considered a professional and experienced negotiator. Trump has been expecting Iran's surrender since the war began on February 28—and this over-optimism, critics say, is his biggest mistake. It is now clear to the White House—as critics have warned—that a war in the Middle East is easy to start but difficult to end.
Axios: The US offered Iran a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment
In talks in Islamabad, the US asked Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years, reported the American outlet Axios. According to the source, "the US proposed to Iran to declare a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment," with Tehran responding with a counter-proposal asking for a freeze on enrichment for less than 10 years. A source in the US government clarified that the parties "continue to cooperate in an effort to reach an agreement." On April 11, Iran and the United States held several rounds of talks in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Both sides later reported they were unable to reach an agreement for a long-term settlement of the conflict due to certain differences. The prospects for dialogue between Tehran and Washington remain unclear.
New York Times: Iranian counter-proposal to suspend the process for 5 years
After the US asked Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years during the Islamabad talks, Tehran submitted an official response on Monday, April 13, stating it would agree to do so only for five years, report the New York Times, citing two senior Iranian officials and one American official. The American official reported that US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, adding that Iran also rejects American demands to remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Although the Iranians reportedly stated they would dilute the enriched material, they could reverse this step at a later stage and enrich it again to a level suitable for nuclear weapons manufacturing. Officials cited by the New York Times also mentioned that discussions are underway for another round of in-person negotiations, though plans have not yet been finalized.
BBC: US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln spotted 200 km from Iran
The American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has entered the Gulf of Oman and is located approximately 200 kilometers south of the Iranian coast, the BBC reported, citing satellite data. According to the BBC, this was the closest approach to Iran by a US vessel since the start of the American offensive against Iran. The carrier strike group also includes two guided-missile destroyers. The US and Iran held a series of talks on a long-term settlement in Islamabad on April 11. The negotiations failed. The US announced plans to impose a naval blockade on Iran starting April 13.
US military fails to deceive Iran in the Strait of Hormuz with electronic warfare… using Arleigh Burke
On the 45th day of the war, the US fleet attempted and failed to deceive Iran in the Strait of Hormuz with electronic warfare: The recent American move to send an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to the Strait of Hormuz and attempt to use electronic warfare was a deception... a failed one. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow area and, even with long-range optical surveillance equipment, ship traffic can be closely monitored. The idea that it is possible to hide from naval forces using electronic warfare is not a viable solution.
Scott Ritter (former CIA): Iran's response to new US attacks will be catastrophic, it will be the end of civilization
Iran's response to new American strikes will be devastating, stated former CIA officer Scott Ritter. "We will return to the attacks. Trump promises Iran further destruction. But if we hit a power station, the lights will go out across the entire Middle East. All key energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE will simply disappear. And if the White House decides to go further, they will start hitting desalination plants. This will also affect Israel. And this is a matter of survival—it is the end of modern civilization in the region," Scott Ritter said. According to Scott Ritter, Washington has already lost this conflict because it failed to change the battle dynamics before the ceasefire. Specifically, control of the Strait of Hormuz was not established and the leadership in Tehran was not toppled. Now, according to Scott Ritter, Iran controls every aspect of the conflict and new American attacks will yield no result.
Iran demands reparations from 5 regional countries: Bahrain, S. Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan
The Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations noted: "We demand reparations from five countries in the region, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, for their participation in the US-Israeli war against Iran." "These five countries, through their internationally wrongful acts, have violated their international obligations to the Islamic Republic of Iran under international law and, therefore, their international responsibility has been triggered and they must 'pay full compensation for the damages caused to Iran, including compensation for all material and moral damages resulting from their internationally wrongful acts.'"
War and blockade scenarios - Iran's strategy for the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval embargo... under conditions and without fees
Iran has examined various scenarios to counter the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz... with flexible fees.
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If a civilian vessel—for example, one belonging to a European country—wants to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and has previously paid us the relevant fees, there is no problem from our side. The fees have been collected and the ship can continue its journey. Whether the US wants to seize it or not does not concern Iran!
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As for ships belonging to China and Russia, the US is generally expected to avoid confrontation with them and not cause them any inconvenience.
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In the case of other countries, especially those considered friendly, different arrangements can be made and sometimes they may not even pay fees.
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But a different scenario would arise if the US prevented Iranian ships from passing through this route—from the Strait of Hormuz to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean. In such a case, the probability of a naval clash would be a serious concern.
Baghdad Today: Iran prepared for blockade, has tankers at sea with 170 million barrels for 80 days
Iran anticipated the possibility of its ports being blocked by the US and positioned dozens of oil-laden tankers at sea in advance, making them almost undetectable, reports the Iranian-based media outlet Baghdad Today. According to Baghdad Today, Iran foresaw the US plan and "placed more oil at sea than the storage facilities could hold—a volume that guarantees the oil supply to its partners for about 80 days." It is reported that even before the armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf, Iran "began preparing these reserves, loading tankers three times faster than usual." Experts estimate that these "offshore storage facilities" may hold up to 170 million barrels of oil. As Baghdad Today notes, the tankers deployed at sea are moving "in stealth mode," which makes their detection extremely difficult. A US naval blockade, Baghdad Today notes, will have virtually no effect on these Iranian vessels, rendering it highly ineffective.
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