Netanyahu says Israel backs Trump’s naval blockade on Iran

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel supports US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran and is coordinating closely with Washington on the issue.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Tehran had breached the terms linked to the talks held in Islamabad. According to a video statement released by his office, he said, "Iran violated the rules (of the peace talks in Pakistan), President Trump decided to impose a naval blockade." He added, "We, of course, support this firm position, and we are in constant coordination with the United States."

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday after weekend negotiations with Tehran ended without an agreement. Trump had earlier announced on social media that he would blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic trade route that he had been demanding Iran fully reopen.

The announcement followed the departure of US Vice President JD Vance from unsuccessful talks with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad. The US military said the blockade would start at 1400 GMT and would apply to all vessels leaving or attempting to dock at Iranian ports on both sides of the waterway.

Netanyahu cites briefing from Vance

Netanyahu told the cabinet that Tehran had violated the terms for entering the negotiations and said Vance had briefed him after the talks concluded in Islamabad.

"The breakdown came from the American side, which could not tolerate Iran's blatant violation of the terms for entering negotiations," Netanyahu said. He further stated, "The agreement was that there would be a ceasefire, and that the Iranians would immediately open the strait. They did not do so. The Americans could not accept this."

Netanyahu also said Vance had told him that Trump’s main concern was Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and preventing future enrichment activity inside the country.

"The central issue for Trump was the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran and "ensuring that there is no further enrichment in the years ahead -- even decades ahead -- no enrichment within Iran", he added.

Netanyahu said that objective was also significant for Israel, adding, "That is their focus, and of course it is important to us as well."

The developments came as the United States moved ahead with the blockade following the collapse of the latest round of talks with Tehran, with the Strait of Hormuz again at the centre of the dispute.