The United States is moving to block the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump announcing Sunday that US naval forces will begin stopping ships. The move comes after collapsed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The announcement came a day after US and Iranian officials wrapped nearly 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, without reaching an agreement. Vice President JD Vance said at the conclusion of the meetings that “we have not reached an agreement.” Trump later said negotiations “went well” overall, but failed on “the only point that really mattered,” referring to Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump said Iran was also leveraging threats in the waterway to extract payments from commercial shipping: “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted,” the president wrote. He added, “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
US officials say Iran has claimed to place mines in the strait and has attempted to charge ships $1 per barrel of oil for safe passage. The administration also said US forces will begin clearing those mines, reports the New York Post.
“Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘LOCKED AND LOADED,’ and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!” Trump said, warning that any Iranian vessel firing on US forces would be “BLOWN TO HELL.”
The strait has historically carried a massive share of the world’s seaborne oil supply. A two-week ceasefire announced earlier this month remains in place, though it looks increasingly fragile.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The announcement came a day after US and Iranian officials wrapped nearly 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, without reaching an agreement. Vice President JD Vance said at the conclusion of the meetings that “we have not reached an agreement.” Trump later said negotiations “went well” overall, but failed on “the only point that really mattered,” referring to Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump said Iran was also leveraging threats in the waterway to extract payments from commercial shipping: “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted,” the president wrote. He added, “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
US officials say Iran has claimed to place mines in the strait and has attempted to charge ships $1 per barrel of oil for safe passage. The administration also said US forces will begin clearing those mines, reports the New York Post.
“Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘LOCKED AND LOADED,’ and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!” Trump said, warning that any Iranian vessel firing on US forces would be “BLOWN TO HELL.”
The strait has historically carried a massive share of the world’s seaborne oil supply. A two-week ceasefire announced earlier this month remains in place, though it looks increasingly fragile.
