Germany: US blockade targets Iranian ports, not Strait of Hormuz

The German government does not believe the United States intends to blockade the Strait of Hormuz itself, but rather Iranian ports, spokesman Stefan Kornelius told reporters in Berlin on Monday. “The Strait of Hormuz, or the so‑called blockade, as you call it, does not mark the end of this diplomatic process; we interpret it as a move to increase the pressure,” he said. Kornelius noted that a US Central Command statement “does not speak of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but rather of a blockade of Iranian ports.”

Bargaining Chip

Kornelius added that the strait appears to be “a kind of bargaining chip” for both sides. He said the German government is “making every effort to use this newly mounting pressure through diplomatic channels to achieve de‑escalation.” President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports that will take effect at 14:00 GMT on Monday, following the collapse of rare direct US‑Iran talks in Islamabad over the weekend. The negotiations, which lasted 21 hours, failed to produce an agreement.