The new deadline set by the US leader is for 3pm BST on April 13. But Iran appeared defiant to the threat of seeing "any and all ships" trying to enter the key waterway, through which some 20% of the world's oil transits, being barred from entering or exiting. Iranian state broadcaster Press TV shared a statement from Iranian Navy Commander, Shahram Irani, which also read: "The threats of the US president following the humiliating defeat of his army in the third imposed war, a naval blockade on Iran, are very ridiculous and laughable."
Donald Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo that he could “take Iran out in one hour".
“I could take out Iran in one day... in one hour. I could have their entire energy, everything, every one of their power-generating plants, which is a big deal. I hate to do it, because if you do it, it takes ten years to build... they’ll never be able to rebuild it", Trump said.
US says it will begin a blockade of Iranian ports from today
The US military says it will begin a blockade of Iranian ports from 10am ET, (2pm GMT, 3pm BST and 5.30pm in Iran) from today, effectively seizing control of maritime traffic in the strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command says the blockade will be applied equally to ships from all countries.
However, it says that its forces will not interfere with the free movement of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they are traveling to or from ports outside Iran.
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