President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. Navy will blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
The order came after marathon talks in Pakistan failed to end the war with Iran.
“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 in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said he has instructed the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran” and to begin “destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits.”
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” he added.
At least two vessels that have traversed the strait have paid Iran fees in Chinese yuan to guarantee safe passage, analysts from Lloyd’s List Intelligence said in a recent report. The analysts wrote that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to submit full documentation, obtain clearance codes and accept IRGC-escorted passage through a single controlled corridor.” Iran has indicated that it might seek to impose a toll on all ships passing through the strait under a long-term peace deal.
Trump has previously urged Iran not to impose tolls on ships traveling through the key waterway.
His announcement followed face-to-face talks led by Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad on Saturday. Vance told reporters that the Iranians “have chosen not to accept our terms” and that the direct talks were over. The two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire five days ago.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said the talks “went well.” He claimed that “most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.”
The president said the blockade “will begin shortly,” adding that other countries will be involved. He said Iran “will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION.”
“They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear,” Trump said. “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!”
