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U.S. President Donald Trump warned Monday that any Iranian ships approaching the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports will be "immediately ELIMINATED" using what he described as the same lethal method used against drug traffickers at sea.
The blockade formally came into force at 10 a.m. ET, sealing all Iranian ports and coastal areas to vessels of all nations.
Trump posted the warning on Truth Social as the blockade entered its operational phase.
"Iran's Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated — 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, 'fast attack ships,' because we did not consider them much of a threat," he wrote.
"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. It is quick and brutal," Trump noted.
He added: "P.S. 98.2% of Drugs coming into the U.S. by Ocean or Sea have STOPPED! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT."
The blockade formally took effect at 10 a.m. ET Monday, 2 p.m. GMT.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the operation covers all Iranian ports and coastal areas on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, applying to vessels of all nations regardless of flag.
Non-Iranian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded.
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