U.S. imposes blockade on Strait of Hormuz, Iranian ports

Strait of Hormuz | MGN

A U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz took effect at 10 a.m. EDT. It was not immediately clear if the U.S. Navy ships had begun their operation.

On Sunday, Mr. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said that he had instructed the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” and that the U.S. would begin “destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits.”

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” he added.

The threat sparked swift condemnation from Iran and other world leaders. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the strait remained under Iran’s “full control” and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a “forceful response,” two Iranian news agencies reported.

The move came after marathon negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with Pakistani mediators, failed to result in an agreement.