Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the US Navy to move to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following escalating tensions with Iran after peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear programme
Trump said the move was aimed at preventing Iran from benefiting from control of the key maritime route, a vital passage for global shipments of oil, gas, and fertilisers.
In a statement shared on his social media platform on Sunday, he claimed the long-term objective was to ensure the strait is cleared and reopened for unrestricted international navigation, but insisted immediate action was necessary.
“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,” he wrote, warning that any hostile action would be met with overwhelming force.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pushed back strongly, insisting it already maintained control over traffic in the waterway. It warned that any opposing forces attempting to challenge its position would be trapped in what it described as a “deadly vortex.”
Reports also indicate that Iran has been limiting passage through the strait, allowing select vessels linked to friendly nations, including China, to pass while restricting others. There have also been unconfirmed claims that Tehran may introduce transit charges for ships using the route.
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