President Trump said “We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world because that’s what they’re doing,” Trump said of Iran.
Speaking outside the Oval Office, Trump suggested the U.S. is still willing to engage with Iran.
“I can tell you that we’ve been called by the other side,” Trump said.
He added: “We’ve been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work a deal.”
Trump did not say who called or what was discussed.
Minutes before the scheduled start of the blockade at 10 AM ET, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency issued a notice to mariners that said the restrictions included “the entirety of the Iranian coastline, including ports and energy infrastructure.”
It added that transit through the strait “to or from non-Iranian destinations is not reported to be impeded by these measures,” but added that ships “may encounter military presence” in the Strait.
