Trump Says US Reinstating Blockade of Iranian Shipping in Strait of Hormuz, Orders New Strikes

  • President Donald Trump said the United States was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would keep the Strait of Hormuz open for a fee while warning that U.S. forces would strike Iran again “very hard” in the coming hours after the two sides exchanged missile and drone attacks.
  • The hostilities followed Iran’s weekend announcement that it was closing the vital waterway, casting further doubt on an interim deal to halt the war and driving oil prices higher. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. would collect a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the strait.
  • S. Central Command said it began a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran at Trump’s direction. Iran’s semi-official YJC news agency reported seven explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas and two more on Kish Island. Trump also threatened to strike Mount Kolang Gaz La, or Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site near the damaged Natanz enrichment facility that experts say is beyond the reach of the most powerful U.S. bunker-buster bombs.
  • Iran’s state TV said its army targeted a “hostile” U.S. vessel with cruise missiles and struck U.S. facilities in Kuwait with drones, while the Revolutionary Guards said they shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone over Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote that Tehran was the guardian of the strait and would remain so “forever,” adding that “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”
  • The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said the blockade would take effect at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday and apply to all vessel traffic regardless of flag, covering the entire Iranian coastline including ports and oil terminals. It said neutral transit passage to non-Iranian destinations would not be impeded and that humanitarian shipments would be permitted subject to inspection.
  • Oil prices jumped more than 9% on Monday, with Brent futures posting their biggest single-day dollar gain since April 2. Higher energy prices are politically sensitive for Trump ahead of November midterm elections that will determine whether his Republican Party retains control of Congress.

(Sources: Reuters)