Trump's blockade has begun

Agnès Ericson

Updated 17.23 | Published 15.42

           

         Trump says the blockade will begin immediately. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has begun.

Ships in the area are being warned.

- If any Iranian ships come close to our blockade, they will be eliminated immediately, says Trump on Truth social.

Now the US blockade of all ship traffic from and to Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz begins. This includes ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

At 16:00, Swedish time, the blockade came into effect.

Applies to everyone

The US military says it applies to all ships - regardless of their flag.

"Any vessel entering or leaving the area affected by the blockade without authorization may be stopped, diverted or captured," the US military Centcom wrote in a message.

          

         Two US destroyers were sent into the strait on Saturday. Archive photo. Photo: Helicopter Squadron           Hsm-71

Donald Trump writes on Truth Social that vessels that come close to the blockade will be "immediately ELIMINATED". He threatens to use the same method that the US has used against drug ships.

"It is fast and brutal," Trump writes.