President of the United States, Donald Trump, has ordered the United States Navy to begin a takeover and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following a breakdown in the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.
In a statement on Sunday, Trump said that while talks had made progress on several issues, they ultimately failed to resolve what he described as the “only point that really mattered”—Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy will begin the process of taking over and blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump declared, describing the move as a response to what he termed “world extortion.”
He accused Iran of fueling uncertainty along the critical oil transit corridor by suggesting that naval mines may have been deployed in the waters, an allegation he said was being used to intimidate global shipping activities.
Trump further stated that U.S. forces had been directed to intercept vessels in international waters suspected of paying tolls to Iran for safe passage, warning that such ships would not be guaranteed protection.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said, adding that American forces would also begin operations to clear mines allegedly planted in the strait.
The statement also contained a stark military warning, with Trump threatening swift and decisive retaliation against any Iranian action targeting U.S. forces or commercial vessels.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be blown to hell,” he warned.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow, yet strategically vital maritime passage linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, handles a significant share of the world’s oil shipments.
Any disruption to traffic through the waterway is expected to have immediate consequences for global energy prices and international trade.
Trump indicated that other countries would participate in enforcing the blockade, although he did not specify which nations would be involved.
He maintained that the United States would not allow Iran to benefit from what he described as an “illegal act of extortion.”
As of the time of filing this report, Iranian authorities had not issued an official response to the announcement.
