Trump Threatens to Destroy Iranian Ships Approaching Hormuz Blockade

The blockade went into effect on Monday, following the collapse of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington on April 1, 2026. Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images

President Donald Trump warned on April 13 that the United States could destroy any Iranian vessels approaching its newly announced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our blockade, they will be immediately eliminated, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea,” Trump said in a post to TruthSocial. He was alluding to operations used against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.