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US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the American Navy will henceforth block all maritime traffic entering the Strait of Hormuz.
The President further stated that the military would interdict any vessel in international waters found to have paid transit tolls to Tehran. Outlining the decision in a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised the Iranian leadership for reneging on previous diplomatic commitments. "Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so. This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and countries throughout the world," the President wrote. Addressing the reported military threats in the region, Trump dismissed Tehran's claims regarding its maritime capabilities. "They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their navy, and most of their 'mine droppers,' have been completely blown up," he asserted. This significant escalation in US naval policy follows the breakdown of high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad. Despite intensive discussions in the Pakistani capital aimed at securing a permanent end to the conflict, both sides were unable to reach an agreement by Sunday, leaving the existing two-week ceasefire in a precarious state. Earlier in the day, President Trump had shared an article from Just the News suggesting that a naval blockade was a viable strategic option following the stalemate in Pakistan. The piece cited national security experts who noted that the US Navy could "out-blockade" Iran, pointing to the presence of the USS Gerald Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf as assets capable of exerting complete control over the waterway. The move towards a more aggressive maritime posture comes as US Vice President JD Vance departed Islamabad after talks hit a gridlock. "We've had a number of substance agreements with the Iranians--that is the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. That is bad news for Iran, much more than it is bad news for the United States of America," Vance told reporters before his departure. In response to the diplomatic impasse, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei emphasised that Tehran remains determined to utilise all tools, including diplomacy, to protect its national interests. He stated that while the sessions covered the nuclear issue, war reparations, and the lifting of sanctions, the success of the process remained hindered by the "excessive demands" of the opposing side. Baqaei maintained that Iran's resolve remains unshaken despite heavy losses, asserting that the country would continue to pursue its historical mission. He added that any further progress depends on the acceptance of Iran's "legitimate rights and interests" as tensions continue to mount over the control of the world's most critical energy chokepoint. (ANI)
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