In Hormuz War Of Words, US Illustrates Threat With 'Drug Boat' Hit

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to many ships after the US and Iran launched an illegal war six weeks ago. The waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is a crucial trade route, including for fossil fuels from the region, and has become a key negotiating point as the death toll across the Middle East has mounted.

After talks led by Vice President JD Vance broke down, Trump wrote Sunday on his Truth Social platform that“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. At some point, we will reach an 'ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT' basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, 'There may be a mine out there somewhere,' that nobody knows about but them.”

“THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted,” Trump continued.“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. We will also 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!”

The president on Monday again threatened any Iranian vessels that“come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE,” and also said that“34 Ships went through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, which is by far the highest number since this foolish closure began.”

As North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries on Monday made clear they did not plan to join Trump's blockade, China's defense minister, Dong Jun, said:“Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade and energy agreements with Iran. We will respect and honor them and expect others not to meddle in our affairs. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and it is open for us.”

Summarizing an interview with Salvatore Mercogliano, maritime historian at Campbell University in North Carolina, Al Jazeera reported Monday that the scholar“expected the US Navy to turn around ships that come out of the strait while keeping at a distance from the range of Iran's missiles and drones.”

It's possible the US action could result in“two competing blockades,” Mercogliano said.“This has the potential to freeze shipping in and out the Strait of Hormuz entirely.”

As has been its custom since the boat bombings began last September, US Southern Command posted an unclassified video clip of Monday's eastern Pacific attack on social media. SOUTHCOM described the bombing as“a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” but did not provide any evidence against the boat's operators.