Trump confirms start of US blockade on Iranian ports

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said the United States will begin imposing a blockade on vessels heading to or departing Iranian ports on Monday, following the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

The blockade is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (05:00 p.m. Makkah time), Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The US Central Command said the blockade will be enforced evenly on vessels of all nationalities, but added that its forces will not obstruct maritime traffic transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said any military vessels approaching the strait would be considered a violation of the current ceasefire agreement and would be dealt with firmly.

Trump had previously suggested a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz but has since shifted focus, according to current indications, toward Iranian ports rather than the strait itself.