US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States will initiate a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, citing the failure of nuclear talks with Iran and alleged extortion tactics by Tehran in the vital waterway.
“So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not. 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 wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump added in the post, “At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”
Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to find and stop every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran, adding that no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage through the strait. He also said the US Navy would begin destroying mines that Iran has laid in the strait.
“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits,” he wrote.
He warned that any Iranian forces that fire at US or civilian vessels would face severe retaliation, saying they would be “blown to hell.”
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country,” he wrote.
He said the blockade would begin soon with support from other countries and stressed that Iran would not be allowed to profit from what he called an illegal act of extortion.
He claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been largely neutralized, saying its navy and air force were gone and its air defenses ineffective, and added that the United States was “locked and loaded” and prepared to take further military action if necessary.
“Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition. The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. 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!” he wrote.
US-Iran war
This announcement comes after US-Iran peace talks held in Pakistan failed to produce any breakthrough. The US-Iran war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched a surprise joint strike on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several other senior leaders. Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in the region and by closing the Strait of Hormuz to vessels from countries it considers hostile, while allowing passage only to a few friendly nations: China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.
The war entered a new phase last week when the US announced a two-week ceasefire and agreed to hold peace talks in Pakistan. However, the peace talks failed to produce any breakthrough.
