U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iranian 'attack ships' will be destroyed if they attempt to break the American blockade. The warning was issued through a post on his social media platform Truth Social, shortly after the blockade began at 10 a.m. Washington time on Monday. Trump stated that Iran’s navy had already lost 158 ships and that the remaining fast attack vessels would be targeted if they approached the restricted area.

The statement followed Trump’s earlier announcement of a full blockade on all Iranian ports. He emphasized that any Iranian naval vessel nearing the blockade zone would be immediately destroyed using the same methods applied against drug traffickers at sea. The post was reported by Al Jazeera.

China has criticized the U.S. blockade as irresponsible, while Iran’s reported war losses stand at 270 billion dollars. Iran’s oil minister described March and April oil sales as satisfactory, and the U.S. vice president said the next move now rests with Iran.