US and Israel Consider Total Land Blockade on Iran to Maximize Pressure

The British newspaper The Telegraph has revealed that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed imposing a comprehensive land blockade on Iran. This unprecedented strategy aims to completely seal Iran's borders, cutting off all economic and military supply lines to intensify pressure on the regime and potentially force it back to the negotiating table from a position of weakness.

The plan was a central topic during a summit in Washington, where both leaders explored combining kinetic and non-kinetic measures to escalate economic pressure. The ambitious blockade would halt all import and export flows through Iran's land borders, preventing the regime from rearming. A senior Israeli official was quoted saying, "What if you simply block the land? Suppose Iran cannot bring in or send out anything. Everything could happen."

While The Telegraph notes this could partly be psychological warfare or a smokescreen for upcoming operational moves, intelligence assessments suggest the current military strategy has reached a dead end. The land blockade would complement an existing US naval embargo already impacting Iranian oil exports. Regionally, Saudi Arabia has begun operations against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, signaling broader shifts.

Implementing the blockade faces significant challenges, requiring immense pressure on seven countries bordering Iran, including Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Some of these neighbors are hostile to Israel or considered weak links in the regional system. Thousands of pro-Iranian militia fighters from Iraq have reportedly crossed into Iran preparing for a possible US ground invasion. Neighboring states cooperating with the blockade risk retaliatory attacks from Iran, potentially turning the entire region into an active conflict zone.

For Israel and the broader Middle East, the campaign against Iran is far from over and is evolving into a prolonged strangulation effort. Israel will need heightened readiness on its eastern front, intensive intelligence monitoring of border smuggling, and robust air force operations against supply convoys attempting to breach the blockade via Iraq and Syria. The plan also raises concerns about wider regional stability amid escalating tensions, including Iranian accusations against Israel for attacking a gas tanker in Egypt and ongoing US diplomatic efforts alongside military pressure.

A senior US official stated the plan remains under review with no final decision yet, but the mere consideration underscores the seriousness of intentions to dramatically increase pressure on Tehran.