Trump Formally Launches Naval Blockade in Strait of Hormuz
"The Iranian Navy is on the sea floor": President Trump officially launches a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reporting the destruction of 158 Iranian ships. U.S. CENTCOM confirms the blockade is live, with Trump vowing a "fast and brutal" response to any remaining vessels attempting to breach the perimeter.
President Donald Trump officially announced the commencement of a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, revealing that U.S. forces have already neutralized nearly the entire Iranian naval fleet.
The Destruction of the Iranian Navy
In a post shared shortly after 5:30 PM (Israel time), President Trump claimed a decisive victory over Iran’s maritime capabilities.
"The Iranian Navy is lying on the sea floor, completely destroyed: 158 ships," the President stated.
He noted that the extensive military operation has effectively neutralized Iran's traditional naval power in the strategic chokepoint. According to the President, the only vessels intentionally spared were a small number of "fast attack craft," which the administration initially did not view as a major threat.
A Warning to Remaining Craft: "Fast and Brutal"
Despite dismissing the remaining small motorboats as a minor nuisance, Trump issued a lethal warning to any Iranian sailors still operating them. He vowed that any vessel attempting to breach or approach the blockade would be "eliminated immediately."
The President compared the planned response to the tactics used against high-speed drug smuggling boats.
"If one of these ships approaches our blockade, it will be eliminated immediately using the same 'kill' method we use against drug traffickers in boats at sea," Trump warned, describing the U.S. response as "fast and brutal."
CENTCOM Activation and Rules of Engagement
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the blockade officially went into effect at 10:00 AM ET (5:00 PM in the Middle East).
According to the formal military announcement:
Strategic Challenges Remain
While the President touted the destruction of 158 ships, military analysts suggest the remaining fast-attack boats, which are small, agile, and difficult to track—may still pose a tactical challenge for the U.S. Navy.
The President’s comments linking naval efficiency to border security concluded with a statistic on domestic policy, claiming that 98.2% of drugs entering the U.S. via the ocean have been intercepted, framing the blockade as an extension of his administration's "maximum pressure" and zero-tolerance enforcement strategies.