US-led initiative tightens efforts to block weapons from reaching Iran, stop nuclear proliferation

The United States and countries participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) pledged on Friday to step up efforts to prevent the transfer of weapons, materials, equipment, and technologies to and from Iran that could support the development of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

The countries issued a joint statement marking one year since the reinstatement of six UN Security Council resolutions imposing restrictions on Iran under the snapback mechanism.

Among the measures announced were closer intelligence-sharing between participating countries, streamlined procedures for transferring information, and interdiction and prevention measures targeting Iranian proliferation activity.

The statement also expressed support for the US sanctions campaign Operation Economic Outcast and called on all UN member states to implement the reinstated resolutions.

“We call on Iran to return to fulfilling its nonproliferation commitments and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” the statement said.

Trump: ‘Very soon, you’re going to see things happening’

The declaration of increased cooperation followed remarks by US President Donald Trump this week that “things will happen in Iran very soon,” as he claimed Tehran’s military and economic capabilities had been severely damaged during six months of war.

“Very soon, you’re going to see things happening,” Trump said, later declaring that the United States would “win this war very quickly, one way or another.”

“In Iran, we’ve been there for six months, with 18 dead. By the way, even one is too many, but they lost 4,500,” Trump said. “We lost 18, and very soon you’re going to see things happening, very soon,” he continued. “But you have a country there that’s been almost completely destroyed. Their economy is in bad shape. They have inflation of more than 300%.”

Trump claims near-total control of Strait of Hormuz

Trump later addressed developments in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that Washington had achieved near-total control of the area.

“Over the last week in the Strait of Hormuz, where we have almost total control, I would say total control, but every once in a while they put a mine there and disrupt things a little,” he said. “But we have, in effect, almost total control of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump also claimed that the volume of oil passing through the strait over the previous three days had reached unprecedented levels.

“And in fact, over the last three days, more oil has come out of the Strait of Hormuz than at any other point in history,” he said. “I’m not just talking about the period since the war. I’m saying at any point in history. There was pent-up demand that had accumulated.”