The United States is broadening its naval blockade of the Persian Gulf, with a second aircraft carrier slated to join the operation within days. The move, announced on Friday by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is part of a wider effort to curb Iran’s multibillion‑dollar oil trade.
Blockade actions and recent seizures
US forces have already seized two Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean and say they will intercept any ships attempting to deliver crude oil to China or other destinations. The expanded blockade will target Iran’s fleet of illicit tankers as they navigate international waterways.
Iran’s response
Tehran has reacted by abducting two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and firing on a third. Hegseth described the actions as those of a “desperate and weakened regime”.
US authority and rhetoric
President Donald Trump has authorised the Navy to engage any Iranian attack boats that try to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt the passage of authorised commercial traffic. In a press briefing, Hegseth said the US military is the guarantor of safety and security for many people worldwide.
He also asserted, "The US military should win the Nobel Peace Prize every year for protecting the globe from sponsors of terror like the Islamic Republic ." The Secretary added a stark characterisation of Iran’s elite forces, stating, "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been reduced to a gang of pirates with a flag, ".
The expansion of the blockade underscores Washington’s determination to pressure Iran over its oil revenues while signalling a willingness to confront what it terms piracy and destabilisation in a key maritime corridor.