A deadline set by Donald Trump for imposing a naval blockade on Iran has passed, with the United States moving to restrict access to Iranian ports.
The US president announced plans to block the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of weekend talks with Tehran that failed to reach an agreement.
The US military said on Sunday that the blockade would take effect from 1400 GMT on Monday, targeting all Iranian ports along the Gulf.
However, it added that vessels not heading to or from Iran would still be allowed to pass through the strait.
Trump also issued a strong warning to Iran, saying any Iranian vessel approaching the blockade would be “immediately eliminated.”
In a post on Truth Social, he claimed that much of Iran’s navy had already been destroyed, adding that only a small number of so-called fast attack boats remained.
He said the US had not previously targeted those smaller vessels as they were not seen as a major threat, but warned they would now be hit if they approached US forces.
Trump added that such action would be carried out using the same methods the US employs against drug trafficking boats at sea, describing it as “quick and brutal.”
#From Middle East Eye