Trump says U.S. will blockade Strait of Hormuz and intercept ships that paid tolls to Iran

Washington — President Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. Navy will begin blockading ships from entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz and intercept vessels that have paid tolls to Iran, after marathon talks in Pakistan failed to yield an agreement to end the war.

“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,” the president said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning. 

Mr. Trump also said he has instructed the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” and that the U.S. would 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!” he added. 

At least two vessels that have traversed the strait have paid Iran fees in Chinese yuan to guarantee safe passage, analysts from Lloyd’s List Intelligence said in a recent report. Analysts wrote that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “has imposed a de facto ‘toll booth’ regime in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to submit full documentation, obtain clearance codes and accept IRGC-escorted passage through a single controlled corridor.” Iran has indicated that it might seek to impose a toll on all ships passing through the strait under a long-term peace deal.

The president has previously urged Iran not to impose tolls on ships traveling through the key waterway. His announcement of a blockade came after the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal after face-to-face talks led by Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad on Saturday. Vance told reporters that the Iranians “have chosen not to accept our terms” and that the direct talks were over. The two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire five days ago.

In his post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said the talks “went well.” He claimed that “most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.”

The president said the blockade “will begin shortly,” adding that other countries will be involved, but he didn’t specify which countries. He said Iran “will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION.”

“They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear,” he said. “Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully ‘LOCKED AND LOADED,’ and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!”

Mr. Trump told Fox News later Sunday, “The U.K. and a couple of other countries are sending mine sweepers.”

Contrary to Mr. Trump’s statements on Sunday, the United Kingdom will not be involved in a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar told CBS News. 

“We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home,” a U.K. government spokesperson told CBS News. “The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling. We are urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation.”