Trump Threatens to Destroy Iranian Vessels Approaching Strait of Hormuz Blockade

Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that any Iranian vessels approaching an American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz will be "immediately destroyed." He made the declaration on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"WARNING: If any of these ships approach our blockade, they will be immediately destroyed using the same elimination system we use against drug traffickers on ships at sea. It is fast and hard. P.S. 98.2 percent of drugs coming into the US by ocean or sea have been stopped," Trump wrote.

"WARNING: If any of these ships approach our blockade, they will be immediately destroyed using the same elimination system we use against drug traffickers on ships at sea."

In his post, Trump claimed that Iran's naval forces are now "at the bottom of the sea," asserting they have been completely destroyed. He specified this involved 158 ships. The United States reportedly refrained from striking a small number of so-called "fast attack craft" because they were not considered a serious threat.

The threat follows the collapse of recent talks between Iran and the United States, which began in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11th. By Sunday morning, US Vice President JD Vance announced that an agreement could not be reached. The lengthy negotiations ended without result, and the American delegation returned home.

Later that same day, Trump declared that the US would begin blocking all vessels attempting to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He also directed the US Navy to monitor and intercept ships that had paid Iran for passage.

Tehran responded swiftly to Trump's blockade announcement, warning that any misstep by the US and its allies would plunge them into a "deadly whirlpool of destruction in the strait."

Reports indicated that forces from US Central Command were set to commence a blockade of all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas starting April 13th at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.