The US has announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of talks with Iran
US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by US naval forces. He announced this decision following the conclusion of talks between the US and Iran, which took place in Islamabad with Pakistan acting as mediator, according to Axios.
According to Donald Trump, the parties agreed on most points but failed to reach an agreement on the key issue concerning Iran’s nuclear weapons. The talks lasted 21 hours but ended without result.
The US President stated that from now on, the country’s naval forces would begin the process of blocking ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned that any vessel in international waters that had paid Iran a fee for passage through the strait would be intercepted.
“From this moment, the United States Navy, the best in the world, will begin the process of blocking any vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Donald Trump stated.
He added that the military would also track down and intercept vessels paying transit fees to Iran, and would begin clearing the waters of mines. According to the US President, other countries may be involved in the operation, though no specific nations were named.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance stated that the Iranian side had refused to accept Washington’s terms, particularly regarding commitments not to develop nuclear weapons. In Iran, these demands were described as excessive.
Against this backdrop, the US military has already transited the Strait of Hormuz. According to a US official, several US Navy ships crossed the strait on Saturday without coordination with Iran. This is the first such incident since the start of the war.
The operation was aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters and was intended to boost the confidence of commercial vessels in their ability to pass through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital transport artery for the global economy. Following the announcement of a ceasefire, only a small number of vessels passed through it over the course of several days.
Donald Trump also stated that the US had begun the process of clearing the strait of mines to ensure safe passage for ships, and emphasised that this was being done in the interests of many countries around the world.
