According to The Telegraph, the US and Israel are discussing the possibility of imposing a land blockade to further increase economic pressure on Iran. This issue was the focus of a meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday evening.
The goal is to introduce new mechanisms of influence against Tehran after the military strikes and long-term pressure campaigns carried out in recent months failed to yield the expected results.
Details of the plan and economic isolation
To implement the plan, Washington and Tel Aviv will try to persuade countries bordering Iran to close their border crossing points or severely restrict their operations. A senior Israeli official speaking to the publication stated that one of the scenarios is the complete suspension of Iran's land trade.
Imagine that Iran can neither bring any cargo into the country nor take any product out. What would happen then?
Retired US Army Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland stated that although imposing such a blockade would be extremely difficult, this step could deal a severe blow to the Iranian economy. According to him, restricting Iran's trade capabilities will lead to the country's economic isolation.
$70 million contract with China
The closure of land borders and main transport routes is also aimed at making it difficult for Iran to acquire new military equipment. According to reports, Tehran is preparing to purchase hundreds of rocket launchers and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) under a new $70 million agreement signed with China.
Donald Trump believes that the strategy implemented so far regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is no longer yielding results. For this reason, the White House is considering new escalation options that could bring Iran back to the negotiating table, including a land blockade, which is the next phase of the "maximum pressure" strategy.
