President Donald Trump announced the U.S. has launched military strikes against Iranian assets and reinstated a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz [1].
The move targets one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. Any prolonged disruption of the strait threatens global energy markets and could escalate direct military conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking from the White House in Washington, D.C., Trump said the strikes targeted Iranian facilities near the strait [1, 2]. He said the actions were intended to neutralize Iranian capabilities that threaten the safety of the waterway [1, 2]. The president said the U.S. has taken control of the strait and will ensure free passage for ships [3].
"We are reinstating a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said [1].
During the announcement on Monday, Feb. 10, 2026 [1], the president used stark language regarding the impact of the operation. "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," Trump said [4]. He said the U.S. would take Iran’s uranium to secure the passage of vessels [3].
Reports indicate the administration may also view regional cooperation with caution. Trump said the U.S. would attack Oman if that nation attempted to control the strait in coordination with Iran [5].
These developments follow a period of heightened tension regarding Iranian maritime activity. The president said the blockade is necessary to enforce U.S. policy, and protect strategic interests in the region [1, 2].
“"We are reinstating a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz."”
The seizure of control over the Strait of Hormuz represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy toward Iran. By combining kinetic strikes with a naval blockade, the U.S. is attempting to exert maximum pressure on Iranian infrastructure and nuclear ambitions. Because a vast majority of the world's seaborne oil passes through this narrow corridor, these actions risk triggering a global economic shock and may force neighboring Gulf states to choose between U.S. security guarantees and regional stability.
