Trump Blockades Strait of Hormuz

The main demand of Trump since he started a war with Iran with a treacherous surprise attack on February 28th in the middle of sham negotiations- the second time he's done that, the first being in June 2025 when during those sham negotiations he and Israel bombarded Iran for 12 days- has been that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, the checkpoint at the neck of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of global oil traffic passes by tanker, from the dictatorship nations of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

So it might sound strange that now he's declared a naval blockade of that same Strait. He, and Israel, have been bombing Iran for 44 days now (as of April 12), with the most reiterated ultimatum that the Strait be opened to sea traffic. Now HE'S blockading it. Maybe he figures- if you can't beat 'em, join 'em?

He says that no ship that pays the $2 million to Iran that Iran is levying to allow passage will be allowed through.

So as of now, it is the U.S. that is blockading the Strait, not Iran. Iran has converted it into a toll seaway. The U.S. is the blockader.

Knowing Trump, a lifelong extortionist, his next move will probably be to copy Iran and demand a toll be paid to the U.S. for passage.