What happened
Donald Trump said the United States was reinstating a blockade of Iranian ports and would be "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz, where it would impose shipping charges. The statement was made amid intensified strikes between the two sides, described as the most severe exchange since an April ceasefire.
Iran’s military command rejected any U.S. interference in the crucial oil-and-gas shipping lane and warned Gulf neighbours against cooperating with Washington.
Background and earlier position
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It is central to global energy security because major oil and gas shipments pass through the lane.
The current confrontation is part of a wider Iran-United States tension, and the latest strikes are described as the most severe since the April ceasefire.
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