President Donald Trump announced a hardline plan to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with Iran collapsed.
On the 12th (local time), Trump wrote on his Truth Social account: "The world's most powerful U.S. Navy will immediately begin blockading all vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz."
U.S. officials and analysts said the statement signals Washington intends to directly control the waterway to choke off Iran's oil export routes following the breakdown in talks.
Trump said, "Negotiations progressed overall and we reached agreement on most issues, but we did not reach agreement on the one truly important nuclear issue."
He criticized Iran, saying the U.S. might one day allow all ships to pass, but Tehran has blocked that by asserting there may be mines in the water.
He called the tactic "extortion" and said the United States will not be extorted.
He also said he had ordered the U.S. Navy to locate and interdict in international waters any vessels that had paid passage fees to Iran, warning that ships that paid those illegal tolls would not be guaranteed safe passage.
