European countries declined to take part in the action, which is designed to pressure Iran into making concessions by cutting off its oil income.

Frustrated by Iran’s unwillingness to give up its stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump is trying to force the issue. The US military announced that it had imposed a full blockage of Iran’s southern coastline,

A U.S. blockade is underway, after Vice President JD Vance warned "two can play at that game". Follow Newsweek's live updates

At least two ships have visited Iranian ports while two are linked to China. The US previously said it would stop vessels travelling to or from Iran.

Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the effectiveness of the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz while highlighting sanction power and coordinated efforts against the Iranian regime.

In a social media post earlier Sunday, Trump said the U.S. will blockade the shipping route, marking an escalation in the more than six-week-long war.

Peace talks broke down over Iran’s nuclear program, which has survived two decades of international diplomacy seeking to curtail it and more than five weeks of bombing.

President Donald Trump warned on ⁠Monday ⁠that any Iranian "fast-attack" ships that go ⁠near a U.S. maritime "blockade" on Iran would be eliminated, and he said ​the U.S. would not allow Tehran to "extort the world.