Trump says Iranian 'fast-attack' ships that come close to US blockade will be eliminated

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iranian fast-attack ships approaching a U.S. maritime blockade would be eliminated. Tensions escalated as Iran threatened retaliation while NATO allies urged de-escalation over a critical global oil shipping route.

Kristin Neubauer/Reuters

14 April 2026 at 07:43:31

Trump says Iranian 'fast-attack' ships that come close to US blockade will be eliminated

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on after disembarking Air Force One as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., April 12, 2026.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Monday (April 13) that any Iranian "fast-attack" ships that go near a U.S. maritime blockade on Iran would be eliminated.

"Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump's comments came as the deadline passed on Monday for the start of a U.S. military blockade of ships leaving Iran's ports, and Tehran threatened to retaliate against ports of its Gulf neighbors after weekend talks on ending the war broke down.

NATO allies including Britain and France said they would not be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade, stressing instead the need to reopen the waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil normally passes.

-Kristin Neubauer/Reuters