U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 12th (local time) that the U.S. Navy, the world's most powerful, will immediately begin a blockade of all vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz. Observers interpreted the comment as an effort to choke off Iran's oil exports by seizing control of the strait after talks with Iran collapsed.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Negotiations went well and most issues were agreed on, but the one really important issue—the nuclear issue—was not."
He added, "Someday we'll reach a point where we allow all ships to pass, but Iran has blocked that by saying, 'There may be mines somewhere,' a claim only they can verify."
He characterized the tactic as extortion against the world and said that world leaders—especially the United States—will not be extorted.
He also said he ordered the U.S. Navy to locate and intercept, in international waters, any vessels that paid tolls to Iran, warning that anyone who paid illegal tolls would not be able to sail safely on the high seas.
