WASHINGTON — President Trump claimed Wednesday that Iran was “choking like a stuffed pig” due to the US blockade of the Islamic Republic’s ports, which he indicated would remain in place until Tehran agreed to give up its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them,” Trump told Axios in a phone interview.
“They want to settle. They don’t want me to keep the blockade. I don’t want to [lift the blockade], because I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump mocked Iran’s leaders after a planned second round of peace talks in Pakistan collapsed — with Tehran receiving a cool reception from the US to its proposed two-phase offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, then address its nuclear ambitions later.
The president claimed Friday that Iran faces a cataclysmic event if the US embargo continues, due to a quirk in Tehran’s oil infrastructure that makes it difficult to halt the flow of petroleum to Kharg Island, which processes about 90% of exports.
“If they don’t get their oil moving, their whole oil infrastructure is going to explode,” Trump said.
His latest remarks came as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the conduct of the war from Democratic criticism during a hearing on Capitol Hill.
The Pentagon’s chief financial officer revealed at that hearing that the war has cost $25 billion, most of it in munitions.
On Tuesday, Operation Epic Fury crossed the 60-day deadline requiring congressional authorization under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which the White House says is unconstitutional.
