After failed discussions between the United States and Iran, Donald Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that came into effect on Monday, April 13. The Republican president threatened to “destroy” any Iranian “fast attack ship” defying the American blockade. Iran denounced this as an “illegal” act of “piracy” and warned that it would target the ports of other Gulf countries if “the security of the ports of the Islamic Republic is threatened,” as reported by France 24. “If any of these ships approach even a little bit our BLOCKADE, it will be immediately DESTROYED,” Donald Trump threatened on his Truth Social network. The announcement of this blockade caused oil prices to rise, plunging global markets into uncertainty once again.
According to the American think tank Soufan Center, Donald Trump aims to deprive Iran of its export revenues with this blockade. He hopes that China will pressure Iran to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Since the start of the war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, Tehran has locked down the Strait of Hormuz with passage rights it wants to maintain. According to Donald Trump, 34 ships passed through Ormuz on Sunday, April 12, the highest number since this senseless closure began. The American blockade is supported by Israel, but not by the United Kingdom. Spain, on the other hand, deemed it “meaningless.”
Context:
This article discusses the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran due to a blockade imposed by Donald Trump on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane in the Middle East.
Fact Check:
Some of the statements and actions mentioned in the article may be subject to different interpretations or opinions, as geopolitical conflicts are often complex and multifaceted.
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