April 12 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz and would also interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran.
Trump made his remarks in a Truth Social post hours after U.S-.Iran peace talks ended without a deal. Trump said the meeting “went well, most points were agreed,” but added the two sides had not agreed on Iran’s nuclear program.
“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,” said Trump, who is strongly opposed to the idea of Iran charging ships a toll to pass through the strait.
“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,” he said.
This report is given by Reuters. The Sen Times holds no responsibility for its content.
What is the reason why the US-Iran peace negotiations fail in 2026?
The 2026 peace negotiations between Islamabad and the US failed mainly because Tehran was unwilling to make verifiable bids in terms of halting its nuclear weapons program. Even though negotiators were successful in agreeing with the secondary diplomatic issues, the ultimate stalemate regarding nuclear enrichment and global supervision procedures was unacceptable.
How would a Strait of Hormuz blockade affect the prices of gas?
Blockading the Strait of Hormuz by the navy incurs instant volatility in all the energy markets and this normally causes a booming upsurge in the prices of Brent Crude and natural gas. Due to the fact that about 20 percent of the petroleum liquids are transported over this waterway, any long term interference will lead to unnatural vacuum in supply.
Is Strait of Hormuz blockading legal in US?
All international maritime law in general outlaws any blockade of an international strait, because the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) secures the right of so-called transit passage. But the U.S will describe this move as a legitimate counter-extortion against the unlawful Iranian toll extraction.
What will happen to those ships that paid their tolls to Iran?
Ships that have been found to have paid Iranian transit tolls are under an automatic threat of being interdicted and seized by the United States Navy in the international waters. These vessels lose their safe passage right and they are exposed to board-and-search measures in order to impose U.S. maritime edicts.
What are US Navy rules of engagement in international waters 2026?
According to the 2026 rules of engagement, the U.S Navy is authorised to use the necessary and proportional force to stop unauthorised vessels coming into or leaving the Strait of Hormuz. The commanders can decide to counter any threat such as Iranian set mines or enemy fire toward innocent commercial vessels.
Will Iran retaliate the US naval blockade?
Geopolitical intelligence implies that Iranian revenge will be extremely likely which can be represented as asymmetric warfare, use of naval mines, or domestic energy infrastructure attacks. The leadership in Tehran has a historic record of reacting to the maritime containment, by threatening to close the Gulf, to all international traffic.
