Breaking | 'Blown to hell': Trump announces US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The US plans to interdict ships and clear mines, warning of military retaliation and raising fears of major escalation US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping naval operation targeting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil transit chokepoints. "Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz", Trump said in a social media post on Sunday. He added that "at some point, we will reach an 'ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT' basis". "I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. "No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!" The announcement came in a series of scorched-earth statements following a marathon 21-hour summit in Islamabad, Pakistan.