President Donald Trump praised the U.S. Navy on Friday for acting 'like pirates' while enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, boasting that recent seizures have proven 'a very profitable business.'

Trump made the remarks during comments in Washington on the evening of May 1, describing a recent operation in which U.S. forces took control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, its cargo, and oil cargo. 'We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It's a very profitable business... We're like pirates. We're sort of like pirates, but we are not playing games,' he said.

The blockade targets ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and is separate from Iran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran has blocked nearly all non-Iranian vessels since the war began. U.S. forces have seized vessels such as the M/V Touska in the north Arabian Sea and redirected over 40 ships carrying oil and contraband since the operation started on April 13. Pentagon officials described the effort as working 'to perfection,' with no economic trade moving in or out of Iran.

The measures have inflicted significant economic damage on Iran. The U.S. Defense Department estimates Tehran has lost nearly $5 billion in oil revenue, with 31 tankers carrying 53 million barrels stuck in the Gulf of Oman, valued at over $4.8 billion. Iran faces storage constraints for its crude production, potentially within 15 to 60 days, which could pressure negotiations.

The blockade stems from the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which erupted on February 28 when American and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iranian military targets. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in Gulf states, leading to thousands of deaths and the displacement of up to 3.2 million people inside Iran. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, as the Strait of Hormuz handles about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, driving up prices.

Trump's comments highlight the administration's aggressive approach amid cease-fire talks. While the war polls poorly in the U.S., officials emphasize the blockade's effectiveness in squeezing Iran's resources. Iran has accused the U.S. of piracy in response to the seizures.