US President Trump threatens to blockage of Strait of Hormuz

US Imposes Blockade on Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions with Iran

A naval blockade has been imposed by the United States on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies. The move comes after talks in Islamabad between Washington and Tehran ended without a deal. President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would begin enforcing a blockade at 10am Washington, DC time on Monday.

The blockade is set to affect all ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz, regardless of their nationality. The US military has stated that it will enforce the blockade in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz, applying to all vessels without exception.

Iran’s armed forces have condemned the move as an “illegal act” and a form of piracy. A professor of maritime law at City St George’s University of London has described the US actions as “sanctions enforcement at sea”, with the US Navy hunting down and interdicting ships that pay tolls to traverse the strait.

The blockade is seen as a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, which had agreed to a two-week ceasefire last week. The agreement allowed for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but it has been unclear whether Iran would collect fees for passage during this period. The US military has stated that it will block all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports, including those in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Analysts have warned that the blockade could harm the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. A political scientist at the University of York has described the move as an “escalation” in the US-Iran conflict, with President Trump using the threat of a blockade to pressure Iran into compliance with US goals.

Source: Al Jazeera