President Donald Trump declared on Friday that the US Navy is acting "like pirates" as it executes a naval blockade of Iranian ports amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel against Iran. $LUNC
According to Reuters, the comments were made during a nighttime speech where the president described a recent operation involving the seizure of a vessel by US forces.
Naval operations and revenue capture $SPACE
Detailing the recent seizure of an Iranian vessel, President Trump highlighted the financial aspect of the military maritime strategy. "We took control of the ship, we took control of the cargo, we took control of the oil. It's a very lucrative business," Trump said on Friday night.
He added: "We are like pirates. We’re kind of pirates, but we aren't joking around." The strategy has involved the US seizing various ships from Tehran, sanctioned container vessels, and Iranian tankers in Asian waters.
The US-led blockade of Iranian ports exists alongside a separate blockade of the Strait of Hormuz maintained by Iran since the start of the war. The Strait remains a critical global chokepoint, facilitating approximately 20% of global shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas.
The dual blockades have contributed to rising global oil prices and severe disruptions in maritime trade routes. The latest developments follow the initial attacks on Iran on 28.02, which triggered retaliation against Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.
Conflict volatility and international scrutiny $XNY
The president's remarks come amid widespread condemnation of his rhetoric regarding the conflict.
Last month, Trump faced backlash after threatening the destruction of the entire Iranian civilization, and several US experts suggested that threats to target civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes.
Despite shifting timelines and evolving objectives for a war that remains largely unpopular in the US, the government continues to ramp up its economic and military pressure on Tehran.
The humanitarian cost of the conflict continues to rise, with US and Israeli attacks in Iran and Lebanon resulting in thousands of casualties and the displacement of millions.
As the naval blockade persists, the focus remains on the role of the US Navy in intercepting cargo to enforce sanctions and degrade Iran's economic capacity.
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