- He said the US Navy would target and intercept any ships in international waters that have made such payments
- He declared that US naval forces would begin stopping ships entering or leaving the strait
- Iran has rejected US claims that its naval vessels recently conducted mine-clearing operations in the area
Donald Trump has announced that the United States Navy will immediately begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of recent US-Iran peace talks held in Pakistan.
In a statement shared on social media on Sunday, Eko Hot Blog reports that Trump accused Iran of engaging in “extortion,” alleging that vessels are being forced to pay fees to pass through the vital shipping route.
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He said the US Navy would target and intercept any ships in international waters that have made such payments.
According to Trump, although the talks made progress on several issues, they ultimately failed to resolve concerns related to Iran’s nuclear programme, which he described as the central point of disagreement.
He declared that US naval forces would begin stopping ships entering or leaving the strait.
Tensions in the region have escalated since late February, when conflict broke out involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Since then, Iran has effectively asserted control over the narrow waterway, which is a key passage for global energy supplies.
The disruption has significantly reduced maritime traffic through the strait, affecting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and contributing to instability in global markets.
Iran has rejected US claims that its naval vessels recently conducted mine-clearing operations in the area and warned that any foreign military presence in the strait would face a strong response.
Trump reiterated his stance by warning that any attacks on US forces or civilian ships would be met with overwhelming force.
He also suggested that other nations could join the blockade effort, emphasizing that the US would not allow Iran to profit from restricting access to the waterway.
Despite the tensions, Iran has continued to send its own vessels through the strait and has permitted limited passage for ships from other countries. Iranian officials have also floated the idea of introducing transit fees for ships using the route once hostilities subside.
Trump concluded by stating that US forces would actively pursue and stop any vessel that pays such fees, insisting that no ship involved would be allowed safe passage on international waters.
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