Donald Trump has declared that the US navy will initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while asserting that Iran’s navy has been decimated. The US president made this announcement on Truth Social, indicating that the military has implemented the blockade in response to the ongoing standoff with Iran.
In a social media post, Trump stated, “Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated – 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat.” He further warned that any ships approaching the blockade would be swiftly eliminated using a similar approach employed against drug traffickers at sea.
The conflict, which began on February 28, saw Iran blocking the vital channel through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas passes. Following unsuccessful negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad, Trump announced his intention to prevent all ships from passing through the strait.
On Sunday, the President of the United States stated that the US would start blocking the strait and intercepting all vessels that have paid tolls to Iran in international waters. Trump mentioned the involvement of “other countries” in the blockade without specifying which ones, although the UK reportedly will not participate.
Trump emphasized that any vessel paying an illegal toll will not be granted safe passage and vowed to remove the mines laid by Iran in the strait. He also warned that any Iranian forces firing at US or peaceful vessels would face severe consequences.
The president reiterated his claims of Iran’s military being severely damaged and declared the US readiness to conclude the conflict. Amid escalating tensions, UK minister Wes Streeting criticized Trump’s provocative statements regarding the situation with Iran.
Trump’s primary concern remains Iran’s nuclear capabilities, insisting that Iran should not acquire or expand its nuclear weapons arsenal, a stance Tehran has consistently denied.
This latest development comes as Trump continues to make controversial statements on social media regarding the conflict with Iran.
