On April 12 (local time), President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would immediately begin blocking any vessel entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that negotiations had progressed and most issues were resolved, but the single, truly critical issue — the nuclear one — remained unresolved.
He added, "One day we'll reach a point where all ships can come and go, but Iran blocked that with a single line: 'There may be mines somewhere only we know about.' That's extortion against the world, and world leaders — especially the United States — will not be extorted."
Trump also said he had ordered the U.S. Navy to locate and intercept on the high seas any vessels that had paid passage fees to Iran, warning that anyone who pays illegal transit fees would not be able to navigate the high seas safely.
