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US President Donald Trump attends the UFC 327 at Kaseya Center yesterday in Miami. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Donald Trump says the US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz immediately

He said the blockade will begin shortly with the involvement of other countries.

THE UNITED STATES Navy will begin blockading “any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”, effective immediately, US President Donald Trump said this afternoon.

Trump said in two lengthy posts on his social media platform Truth Social that following a meeting between the US and Iran, hosted in Pakistan, the two failed to come to an agreement on nuclear power.

He claimed Iran would not give up its “nuclear ambitions”.

Despite saying that the strait would be blockaded by the US, he went on to say than Iran “better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST!”

He continued: “I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”

He said the blockade will begin shortly with the involvement of other countries. 

At some point, the US will reach a “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, he added, but said mines left within the strait by Iran has so far prevented this.

The strait, which has come to global prominence after its closure by Iran after it was attacked by Israel and the US at the end of February, typically sees the transportation of 20% of the world’s oil.

Its closure has resulted in fuel and oil prices skyrocketing internationally.

Trump’s announcement came after marathon 21-hour talks in Islamabad collapsed. The US delegation, let by vice president JD Vance, said talks had failed over Iran’s refusal to commit to abandon a path to a nuclear weapon. Iran blamed the US for the breakdown of the talks but did not specify its reasoning.

It leaves the fragile two-week ceasefire in the Middle East in question.

Trump continued online: “Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!”

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