US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States Navy will begin blockading all ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, effective immediately. This move follows failed negotiations between the US and Iran over the terms of a ceasefire. In a social media post Trump expressed that he also instructed the Navy to intercept any vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran, warning that “no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

The US President described Iran’s actions as “world extortion,” confirmed that U.S. forces will begin clearing Iranian mines from the Strait, and stated that the military is “locked and loaded” — threatening to destroy what remains of Iran’s military if hostilities escalate.