Trump announces: Lockdown at 10 PM tonight! The Strait of Hormuz is completely shut down again, two ships make emergency U-turns.

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Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has once again come to a standstill, and this globally important energy transport route is facing the most severe blockade since the escalation of the Iran crisis.

According to CCTV International News, after U.S. President Trump arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland aboard Air Force One, he told the media, the U.S. military will implement a blockade against Iran at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on April 13, which is 10:00 PM tonight Beijing time.

Trump wrote in a post: "Effective immediately, the U.S. Navy will begin to blockade any ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz." He also warned that orders have been given to intercept all ships that have paid passage fees to Iran and announced that the U.S. would begin clearing Iranian mines laid in the strait, threatening that any Iranians who fire on the U.S. military or peaceful ships will be "blown sky-high."

Trump said that many other countries are also cooperating, making it impossible for Iran to sell oil. Meanwhile, "many ships are heading to the U.S., loaded with oil and then transported away, and these ships don't need to pass through the Strait of Hormuz." Trump stated that due to America's aggressive oil extraction, U.S. oil "is more than Russia and Saudi Arabia combined."

After the blockade order was issued, shipping in the strait was disrupted almost immediately. According to Xinhua, citing British shipping media Lloyd's List, at least two ships that were originally exiting the strait have turned back. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader's military adviser declared Iran would not tolerate a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, further intensifying the confrontation.

Before the Blockade Order: Shipping Already at Low Levels

Before Trump announced the blockade order, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz had not completely stopped, but was clearly suppressed. According to Lloyd's List, shipping volume in the strait decreased on the 12th, but passage was still possible. On the 11th, the number of tankers passing through the strait briefly increased, as some shipping companies tried to take advantage of the window of the ceasefire agreement to move ships stuck in the Middle East Gulf.

However, failure to reach an agreement in negotiations became the direct trigger for the escalation. In another post, Trump accused, "Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, but knowingly failed to fulfill their promise," saying this has caused anxiety, confusion, and pain to many people and countries around the world.

U.S. Military Action Escalates: Mine Clearance and Interceptions

Alongside the announcement of the blockade order, U.S. military operations have already started around the strait. According to Lloyd's List, citing U.S. Central Command, two U.S. Navy warships crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since fighting broke out at the end of February this year, carrying out the task of clearing Iranian mines laid in the strait. The timing was the day before Trump's blockade order (Saturday).

Trump clearly listed three directives in his post: The Navy will intercept all ships in international waters that have paid Iran passage fees; destroy Iranian mines laid in the strait; and respond forcefully to any Iranian side firing on U.S. military or peaceful ships. He also issued a direct warning to ship owners that any vessel that has paid Iranian passage fees faces the risk of being seized by the U.S. Navy.

Iran's Tough Response, Confrontation Intensifies

In response to the U.S. blockade declaration, Iran quickly issued a tough response. The supreme leader's military adviser stated clearly that Iran would not tolerate a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This stance means the risk of direct confrontation between the two sides in this channel, which carries about one fifth of the world’s oil trade, is rising significantly.

Currently, ships in the strait have generally stopped passage, and market uncertainty is rapidly rising. Lloyd’s List reports that all traffic "seems to have stopped," and the direction of the situation depends on subsequent diplomatic and military moves by the U.S. and Iran.

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