Trump orders military blockade of
Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via AP/TT

Trump orders military blockade of the Persian Gulf

US President Donald Trump is issuing a strong threat to Iran, demanding it immediately open the Strait of Hormuz. "Starting now, the United States Navy - the best in the world - will begin the process of imposing a blockade on all vessels attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote on Truth Social. The US military announced that the blockade will be imposed on Monday.

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The written message from President Trump, who is also the U.S. commander-in-chief, contains an order for the U.S. Navy to board ships traveling through the strait - ships that may have paid a fee to Iran for the journey.

He also demands that Iran “immediately and quickly open international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” which Iran currently controls.

Late Sunday evening, the U.S. military announced that a blockade against all of Iran's ports would begin at 4 p.m. local time in Sweden on Monday.

"The blockade is fully implemented against vessels from all nations heading towards or leaving Iranian ports or coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," writes the U.S. military command in the region, CENTCOM.

The military adds that traffic is allowed from non-Iranian ports.

Iran controls

Most shipping traffic has been stopped in the internationally important waterway by Iran, but some ships have been allowed to pass after apparent agreements with Tehran.

Trump's threat against Iran also includes an order for the U.S. Navy to stop all shipping to and from the strait and to initiate efforts to clear mines there.

Already on Saturday, two American guided missile destroyers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a mine clearance operation, according to the U.S. military.

Blasted to hell

Trump's statement on Sunday afternoon, morning U.S. time, comes after peace talks in Islamabad between high-ranking representatives from Iran and the United States, under Pakistani mediation, collapsed overnight. The president writes in his post that he has received a full account of the failed meeting from the American leader of the delegation, Vice President J D Vance.

Trump ended his post on Truth Social with a blatant warning to Tehran:

“Any Iranian who fires on us, or any peaceful ship, will be blown to hell,” with the last three words written in capital letters.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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