Donald Trump has announced that the US navy will initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while stating that Iran’s navy has suffered heavy losses. The US president made this declaration on Truth Social, claiming that the military has implemented the blockade in response to the ongoing confrontation with Iran.
“Iran’s Navy has been completely destroyed with 158 ships sunk,” Trump wrote. “We have refrained from targeting their ‘fast attack ships’ as they are not deemed significant threats. However, any of these ships approaching our blockade will be swiftly eliminated using the same tactics employed against drug traffickers at sea.”
Since the conflict began on February 28, Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for over 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments. Following unsuccessful negotiations between the US and Iran, Trump has indicated his intent to prevent all ships from passing through the strait.
In a recent statement, the President of the United States announced that the US military will intercept every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran for passage through the strait. Trump hinted at the involvement of other countries in the blockade, without specifying them, except for the exclusion of the UK as reported by the Press Association.
“No ship paying an illegal toll will be granted safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin clearing the mines laid by Iran in the strait. Any Iranian vessel that engages in hostile actions against us or peaceful ships will face severe consequences,” Trump emphasized.
The President’s latest remarks reaffirm his claim of having decimated Iran’s military forces. He asserts that Iran’s Navy, Air Force, and leadership have been neutralized while signaling the readiness of the US to conclude the conflict decisively.
These developments coincide with a series of controversial statements made by Trump on social media regarding the Iran conflict. The President maintains that preventing Iran from acquiring or expanding nuclear capabilities is a critical issue, a stance that Tehran has consistently denied by stating it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
