WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices on April 29 to spike to their highest in more than four years. With diplomacy between Iran and the United States at a standstill after false starts, he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned him of “damaging consequences” if the US and Israel resume their war on Iran. Meeting oil executives, Mr Trump contended that the blockade of Iranian ports – which Tehran has demanded must end before any deal – was more effective than bombing. Mr Trump, at the meeting that took place on April 28, discussed his efforts “to alleviate global oil markets and steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimise impact on American consumers”, a White House official said on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump, speaking to Axios, said of the naval action on Iran: “They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for ...