Ex-diplomat befuddled by Trump's newest Iran war negotiation tactic: 'Will be a test'

A former diplomat was befuddled on Sunday by President Donald Trump's latest negotiation tactic to end the war with Iran.

On Sunday, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he directed the U.S. Navy to enact a counter-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway that the Iranian regime has asserted control of since late February when the war began. The Iranians have effectively shut the waterway to U.S. ships traveling through the area, which accounts for 20% of the global energy trade.

Trump's announcement came after Vice President JD Vance announced that peace talks with the Iranian regime had broken down over the weekend.

Michael McFaul, the former ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, seemed befuddled by the plan when he discussed it on MS NOW's "Alex Witt Reports."

"Blockades areusually consideredinstances of war. So is there still a ceasefire, even though we're doinga blockade?" McFaul wondered. "That's a confusingone for me."

"Second, I reallywonder what's going to happenwhen a Chinese ship is tryingto go in or out [of the Strait]. That will be atest of this blockade, and thatwill be a test of great powerrelations," he added. "Third ... I don't see any country lining up to enforce a blockade, maybe to enforce something afterward, and enforce free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. That's what we had before thiswar."

"By the way, a lot of international lawsuggests that's the way itshould be. But to help usenforce the blockade, I'll bereally surprised if any of ourallies join that missionstatement," he continued.