Transcript
Jessica Mendoza (0:05)
This morning, the United States imposed a blockade on Iran's ports, including those in the Persian Gulf. Our colleague Vera Bergengruin has been following the developments.
Vera Bergengruin (0:16)
We saw the President threaten this massive blockade. He said the US Military will now basically be stopping ships and chasing them down.
Jessica Mendoza (0:25)
According to a senior official, more than 15 US warships are positioned near the Strait of Hormuz, including an air aircraft carrier, an amphibious assault ship and multiple destroyers. Their goal? To prevent ships from leaving major Iranian ports. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy said that any approach by military vessels toward the strait would be treated as a violation of the ceasefire, according to a state linked media outlet. What does this mean for the ceasefire
Shelby Holiday (0:54)
that, you know, started last week? Will it hold?
Vera Bergengruin (0:57)
That's a great question. As of now, it is holding. But again, I mean, what the President is threatening here is that in the course of instituting this blockade, there may also be some limited strikes, as some officials told us yesterday. So if there's Iranian assets on either side of the shore, you know, targeting them, then they might take them out. In that case, the ceasefire would definitely be considered to be broken. We're in a weird position where technically both sides could accuse each other credibly of violating the ceasefire, but they don't seem eager to resume the fighting.
Shelby Holiday (1:31)
What does this moment tell us about the next phase of the war?
Jessica Mendoza (1:35)
Potentially?
Vera Bergengruin (1:37)
I think what it tells us is that this has become very centered on the global economy. On the strait, when you remember how the war started, where Trump basically said Iranians take to the streets, he made it sound like it was about regime change. And now we're in this extended back and forth about this critical waterway of all of these countries around the world are having to really deal with economic consequences. I think what that tells us is that we're now in this potentially prolonged, protracted conflict that isn't just military, it's economic. And it's something that in our reporting, everyone around Trump basically warned him might happen. I just don't think they thought they would still be there.
Jessica Mendoza (2:16)
