In a significant escalation, Donald Trump is deploying a third aircraft carrier to bolster the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following dismissive remarks from Iran about the ceasefire being “meaningless.”

During a Pentagon briefing on Friday morning, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the move, stating, “The blockade is not only expanding; a second aircraft carrier will join in a few days, demonstrating the global reach of this operation.”

Hegseth emphasized the blockade’s “ironclad” nature, asserting that “every vessel” attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports will be blocked from navigating the strait.

Addressing Tehran directly, he declared, “The blockade intensifies by the hour under our control. Nothing enters, nothing leaves. They have no authority, behaving like pirates and terrorists.”

The USS George H.W. Bush added its might to the blockade on Thursday, marking a peak in American naval presence in the Middle East not seen in 20 years, as reported by CNN.

This naval buildup follows Trump’s decision to withhold a specific timeline for the ceasefire with Iran, despite having extended it earlier in the week.

The Bush carrier is among the newest ships of its size in the U.S. fleet, stretching more than 1,000 feet, displacing over 100,000 tons, and powered by two nuclear reactors, with a crew of roughly 5,500 aboard.

After Iran walked away from peace talks in Pakistan, Trump imposed the blockade to pressure Tehran economically and force its leaders back to the negotiating table.

Trump is sending a third aircraft carrier to reinforce his naval blockade Strait of Hormuz as the Iranian regime mocks his ‘meaningless’ ceasefire

The USS George H.W. Bush joined the blockade on Thursday as the number of American warships deployed to the Middle East reaches its highest level in two decades

Hegseth said the ‘ironclad’ blockade will remain in effect, warning that ‘every ship’ entering or leaving Iranian ports will be prevented from passing through the strait

Trump imposed the blockade to pressure Tehran economically and force its leaders back to the negotiating table

Since the war began, Iran has struck back at the US and Gulf states by seeding the Strait of Hormuz with sea mines, throttling a waterway that carries one-fifth of the world’s oil. 

The regime has also deployed swarms of fast attack boats to raid and seize oil tankers. 

Iran had retaliated against Trump’s naval blockade of Hormuz on Wednesday by attacking three oil tankers and seizing two vessels. 

Iran’s state media released a video showing masked commandos boarding two cargo ships.

Masked fighters are seen racing toward the MSC-Francesca ship by using a gunboat before climbing its hull with rifles strapped to their backs.

The escalating standoff has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices skyrocketing as US gas prices surpass $4 a gallon on average nationwide. 

Tensions escalated again on Thursday when the US navy hit back at Iran for seizing two oil tankers in Hormuz. 

US forces on Thursday seized a tanker caught smuggling the regime’s oil in the Indian Ocean. 

Iran seized two cargo ships on Wednesday morning after attacking them as well as a third in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the vessels of being ‘non-compliant’ with the regime’s demands

Trump has further inflamed tensions by imposing a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil and gas prices skyrocketing

‘To the regime in Tehran, the blockade is tightening by the hour, we are in control. Nothing in nothing out,’ Hegseth said

The Pentagon released videos of US naval forces boarding the Iranian-linked oil tanker, Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean. The ship was reportedly carrying oil produced by the Iranian regime.

‘We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,’ the Pentagon wrote on X.

The Pentagon warned that sanctioned actors cannot use international waters as cover, vowing to keep blocking ‘illicit actors and their vessels’ from operating freely at sea.