The United States initiated a naval blockade on Monday, effectively preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. This decisive move follows President Trump’s commitment to halt what he describes as Tehran’s “extortion” of nations utilizing this vital oil passage.

The blockade, as explained by US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, will be implemented “impartially.” Officials clarified that only vessels headed to or from Iranian ports would be affected, leaving those traveling to other destinations in the Persian Gulf unobstructed.

According to Kpler, a trade data and analytics platform, 14 ships navigated the strait on Sunday. This number has dwindled significantly since the start of a two-week cease-fire agreement between the US and Iran, with even fewer journeys recorded each day.

On Sunday, President Trump made the blockade announcement via a post on Truth Social, declaring, “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”

He further emphasized, “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” This statement addresses Iran’s reported demand for up to $2 million per oil tanker for passage rights.

The geopolitical tensions have caused crude oil prices to surge beyond $100 per barrel, following the unsuccessful US-Iran peace discussions held in Pakistan over the weekend.

US stocks also dropped immediately after markets opened, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.7% and the S&P 500 dipping 0.3%.