Trump Warns Iran Ships Breaching US Blockade Will Be 'Eliminated'

 

President Donald Trump said US forces would destroy any Iranian "fast attack ships" that approach the American naval blockade of Iranian ports that came into effect on Monday.

"Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED," Trump said on his Truth Social network, adding that the rest of Iran's navy had been "completely obliterated."

The US military would be "using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea," the president said, referring to air strikes on alleged narcotics boats off the coast of Venezuela.

This warning coincided with the official commencement of the American naval blockade, which took effect at 10 am EDT on Monday following the expiry of a deadline established by the White House.

 

Confirming the start of the operation, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated it has received reports that "maritime access restrictions are being enforced, affecting Iranian ports and coastal areas, including locations along the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz."

The UKMTO noted that these access restrictions apply without distinction to vessels of any flag engaging with Iranian ports, oil terminals, or coastal facilities.However, transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations is not currently reported to be impeded by these measures.This unprecedented move was triggered by the total collapse of negotiations between American and Iranian delegations.