U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will begin a blockade of all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, an apparent effort to cut off Iran's oil export routes.
According to The Associated Press, on April 12 (local time) Trump posted on Truth Social that "negotiations went well and most issues were agreed on, but we could not reach agreement on the most important issue — the nuclear one." He added, "Someday we will allow all ships to pass. Iran is pillaging the world."
"The United States will never be extorted," he said. "I have ordered our Navy to identify every vessel that paid tolls to Iran. We will immediately impose a blockade on all ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and begin clearing the mines Iran has laid in the waterway."
Trump also said Iran's military leadership has been eliminated, asserting, "They died because of their nuclear ambitions." He said the blockade will begin soon, that other countries will join the effort, and that Iran will not be allowed to retain gains secured through illegal extortion.
Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Tehran during ceasefire negotiations the previous day, saying Iran shows no intention of abandoning its nuclear program. "Allowing unstable actors to acquire nuclear capabilities would render any victory meaningless," he said. Vance added that while negotiating teams engaged constructively, they were unable to bridge their differences on the nuclear issue.
© Dailian Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
