United States President Donald Trump has announced that the US Navy will begin enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, following failed negotiations with Iran aimed at ending ongoing conflict and preserving a fragile ceasefire.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X that American forces will implement the maritime restrictions from 10am ET on Monday, targeting all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports.
According to CENTCOM, the blockade will be enforced “impartially” against ships from all nations using Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. However, it clarified that freedom of navigation will remain for vessels transiting the strait to and from non-Iranian destinations.
The move marks a major escalation in tensions, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, handling a significant portion of global energy supplies. The announcement has heightened concerns over potential disruptions to international maritime trade.
Trump, in a social media post, warned that the US would target vessels accused of paying tolls to Iran and claimed American forces would destroy naval mines allegedly placed in the waterway. He also issued a stark warning that any attack on US or civilian vessels would be met with overwhelming force.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by warning that any approaching military vessels would be treated as violating the ceasefire and would be dealt with “decisively,” raising fears of further escalation.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the threats would not influence Tehran’s position, stressing that Iran would respond with force if confronted militarily but remain open to dialogue if approached diplomatically.
The latest developments follow rare high-level US-Iran talks held in Islamabad, which were the first direct engagement between the two sides in over a decade and the most significant diplomatic contact since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
