Trump likens own naval blockade to 'piracy' amid Hormuz crisis

President Donald Trump on Friday openly described U.S. forces as acting "like pirates" while enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, boasting about the seizure of ships and cargo near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Dinner in Florida, Trump recounted how the destroyer USS fired at the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Touska on April 19 before U.S. Marines boarded and took control of the ship and its oil shipment. The remarks came as oil prices surged past $120 per barrel this week for the first time since 2022, while Trump's approval rating fell to 34 percent, a record low in Reuters/Ipsos polling. The interception of the Touska is one of several vessels seized or intercepted by the United States as part of the blockade operations, which entered their third week on Friday. Trump declared the blockade "incredible" while stating he was "not satisfied" with Iran's latest peace proposal, which included suggestions to impose fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal Washington has repeatedly rejected. Iran has condemned the seizures as illegal "piracy and banditry," with a government source telling Press TV that such actions would be met with an "unprecedented" response. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the ongoing pressure on his country's ports as "intolerable," while suggesting divisions within Iran's leadership were complicating negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it a critical chokepoint that both sides have sought to control since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran closed the waterway to "enemy ships" shortly after the bombing campaign began, while the United States declared its own naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and shipping. The naval standoff has significantly disrupted global energy markets, with oil prices climbing amid uncertainty over supplies. Trump also claimed U.S. military action against Iran's nuclear program was necessary to prevent a potential nuclear weapon, stating that without the B2 bomber strikes, "Israel, the Middle East, and Europe would have been blown to pieces." Ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran remain stalled as both nations maintain their competing maritime restrictions.