Trump says US Navy acting like piratesUS Navy acting like pirates during Iranian port blockade
President Donald Trump said on Friday the US Navy was acting "like pirates" while seizing Iranian vessels and cargo as part of Washington's naval blockade of Iranian ports during the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran. Trump described the operation as "a very profitable business," stating that American forces had taken over ships, cargo, and oil in recent days.
The blockade follows Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments—after the US-Israeli air campaign began on February 28. The US Central Command has redirected 45 vessels to enforce the blockade, which applies to all ships regardless of nationality heading to or from Iranian ports, while Iran has vowed to maintain its hold on the strait as long as the American blockade continues.
US Position
The Trump administration frames the naval blockade as a necessary enforcement action during wartime. Trump's characterization of the seizures as profitable and his explicit comparison to piracy suggests the US views these operations as legitimate wartime measures to pressure Iran economically and militarily, with the blockade intended to remain in place indefinitely.
Iranian Position
Iran has responded to the US blockade by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping, allowing only its own vessels through. Tehran has vowed to maintain this chokehold as long as Washington continues its blockade of Iranian ports, framing the action as a defensive response to American economic and military pressure.
- Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's tactics at the Battle of Midway turned the tide of the Pacific War in 1942.
- Bandar Abbas has been Iran's premier port since the 17th century, vital for Persian Gulf trade.
- The IRGC was founded in 1979 to safeguard the Islamic Revolution against internal threats.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
