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 are usually considered instances of war. So is there still a ceasefire, even though we're doing a blockade?" McFaul wondered. "That's a confusing one for me."

"Second, I really wonder what's going to happen when a Chinese ship is trying to go in or out [of the Strait]. That will be a test of this blockade, and that will be a test of great power relations," 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 this war."

"By the way, a lot of international law suggests that's the way it should be. But to help us enforce the blockade, I'll be really surprised if any of our allies join that mission statement," he continued.