US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the US Navy will begin a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that comes as a massive escalation in Middle East tensions and threatens to disrupt global energy markets.
The decision follows a marathon 20-hour diplomatic session in Islamabad, Pakistan, which ended without an agreement on the pivotal issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
The blockade carries significant implications for the global maritime industry, particularly for Greek shipowners, who control approximately 20 per cent of the world’s merchant fleet and a substantial portion of the global oil tanker capacity.
In a series of statements on his own Truth Social, Trump confirmed that the US Navy, which he described as the “Finest in the World”, has been ordered to interdict any vessel attempting to enter or exit the Strait. A primary focus of this operation involves targeting ships that have paid “illegal tolls” to Tehran for passage through international waters.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump stated. He further authorized the US military to begin “destroying the mines” allegedly laid by Iranian forces in the waterway.
The President warned that any Iranian interference with US operations or peaceful vessels would result in immediate and devastating military retaliation, using the phrase “blown to hell” to describe the potential consequences for Iranian forces.
The failure of the Islamabad summit led to Trump’s Hormuz threat
Trump’s latest threat comes after US representatives, including Vice President JD Vance, concluded intensive negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan. Despite some progress on secondary points, the talks collapsed over Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Trump noted that while US negotiators maintained a respectful dialogue with Iranian representatives Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, the “nuclear” issue remained an absolute deal-breaker. “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump emphasized, asserting that the U.S. military is “locked and loaded” to eliminate the remaining Iranian infrastructure if necessary.
As of Sunday afternoon, the US Navy has not yet released specific operational details regarding the “blockading process.”
