Trump Claims Iran Economy Collapsing Under US Blockade

President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Iran's economy is collapsing under the weight of a U.S. naval blockade, claiming the country is losing $500 million daily and urgently seeking to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The statement, posted on his Truth Social platform just after midnight, came amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, where Iran closed the vital shipping route on Saturday, stranding hundreds of vessels and disrupting global oil flows.

Trump attributed Iran's economic woes directly to the blockade, which the United States imposed on Iranian ports starting April 13, following a ceasefire that paused direct military engagements between the two nations. "Iran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately, starving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day," Trump wrote. He added that Iranian military and police personnel are complaining about unpaid salaries, signaling severe internal strain. The president maintained that Iran does not truly seek to close the strait but is posturing to save face, asserting that the U.S. has full control of the waterway. "They only say they want it closed because I have it totally...