President Donald Trump announced the Strait of Hormuz would be subject to a blockade by the U.S. Navy early Sunday, hours after Vice President JD Vance announced 21 hours of diplomatic talks with Iran stalled.
Iran announced the maritime chokepoint was open to vessels that met certain conditions, including paying a toll in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency. Trump said in response that any ship paying the toll would be halted by the United States Navy.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, ‘There may be a mine out there somewhere,’ that nobody knows about but them,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted. 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.”
Vance, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner met with Iranian negotiators for 21 hours in Islamabad, Pakistan, before talks stalled.
Iran declared Thursday it would allow passage of 12 ships per day that pay a $1 per barrel toll in either Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency. The Islamic regime also announced it laid mines but admitted to not knowing their exact locations. Trump then said U.S. Navy vessels would work to clear the Iranian mines.
“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! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country,” Trump posted.
The Department of War referred the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) to a Saturday release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stating that the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) and USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG-121) had transited the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces were also beginning mine-clearing operations, the statement notes.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.
Editor’s note: This breaking news story was updated with additional details.
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