Trump rejects Iran offer, says blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a nuclear deal is reached

US President Donald Trump tells Axios that he rejects an Iranian proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz while Washington lifts the blockade on Iran, pushing nuclear talks off.

The US will not lift its blockade of Iran until a nuclear deal is reached, Trump stresses. “They want to settle. They don’t want me to keep the blockade. I don’t want to [end the blockade] because I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” he says.

“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing,” Trump says. “They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

The president also says that Iran’s energy infrastructure is going “to explode soon” if it isn’t able to export oil.

Meanwhile, three sources with knowledge tell the US outlet that the US Central Command has prepared a “short and powerful” bombing campaign in order to push Iran to accept US demands. The strikes would include infrastructure targets, say the officials.