U.S. Threatens New Economic Siege as Strait of Hormuz Transit Collapses

Overview

• Recent attacks on commercial tankers, including an ADNOC ship reported on Friday, have sharply reduced or nearly halted ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz.
• President Donald Trump said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory and publicly backed continued pressure even if U.S. fuel prices rise.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told U.S. media that Washington will unveil 'unprecedented' economic measures against Iran next week to combine financial pressure with a maritime blockade.
• Iran rejected U.S. threats and said it alone will decide passage through the strait while the Iranian parliament approved measures restricting transit by ships from 'hostile' states.
• Legal experts note that international law does not allow unilateral U.S. annexation of the strait and diplomats say talks are stalled as markets and regional neighbors assess energy and security fallout.