The United States began blocking ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, seeking to step up pressure on Iran to reopen the key sea route for oil after the breakdown of peace talks. President Donald Trump announced the plan on Truth Social on Sunday, harshly criticizing Iran for refusing to give up its nuclear ambitions and accusing Tehran of «blackmailing the world» by restricting traffic through the strait, Bloomberg notes. The US blockade, which went into effect at 10:00 a.m. ET, applies to «all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,» Trump said. US Central Command later added that US forces «will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports». Financial markets reacted immediately: American stock markets fell and the price of oil rose before the measure took effect. Trump has said that other countries will «be involved» in the blockade, but some US allies, including NATO states such as Britain and France, have already refused to participate. Iranian officials responded defiantly, warning that the US blockade would push global energy prices even higher. «Enjoy the current prices at the pump. With the so-called 'blockade', you will soon be craving gas at $4-5,» Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X.
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