Investor and co-founder of Echelon Wealth Partners, Peter Schiff, warned on Tuesday that President Donald Trump\u2018s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz could be perceived as an act of war by affected countries.<\/p>\n
Act Of War<\/p>\n
Schiff expressed concerns about the U.S.-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz via a post on X, saying that Trump\u2019s move to use the U.S. Navy could \u201ceasily be considered an act of war by other nations impacted by the action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat right does the U.S. have to use military force to prevent China from buying oil?\u201d Schiff asked, raising questions about the move. He also added that China\u2019s motives for retaliating against the U.S. would be clear if Beijing decided to act against the U.S.<\/p>\n
Trump using the U.S. Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz could easily be considered an act of war by other nations impacted by the action. What right does the U.S. have to use military force to prevent China from buying oil? However, China’s right to retaliate would seem clear.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/p>\n 24 Hours Of Trump\u2019s Blockade<\/p>\n A Reuters report on Tuesday showcased that over 8 ships had successfully crossed the Strait on the first day of the blockade, including three Iran-linked tankers, the report said. However, the Iran-linked tankers weren\u2019t heading to Iranian ports, so they weren\u2019t affected by the blockade.<\/p>\n Of the 8 ships, one of the ships was the Rich Starry, which was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023 and is owned by the Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co.<\/p>\n U.S. Central Command, in a post on X, shared updates regarding the first 24 hours of the blockade. \u201cU.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,\u201d the post said. It added that six ships were forced to turn around and enter an Iranian port in Oman.<\/p>\n More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/dpWAAknzQp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Trending:\u00a0Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your \u2018Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time<\/a><\/p>\n The official Central Command handle also quoted Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, on Tuesday, who said that the U.S. was maintaining \u201cmaritime supremacy\u201d in the region and that it had successfully halted all of Iran\u2019s international maritime trade activity through the blockade in \u201cless than 36 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n China Criticizes Blockade<\/p>\n China, on the other hand, condemned the blockade, calling it a \u201cdangerous\u201d and \u201cirresponsible\u201d situation. China also took a dig at the U.S. blockade, with President Xi Jinping saying that the international order was \u201ccrumbling into disarray\u201d during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday.<\/p>\n See Also:\u00a0Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.<\/a><\/p>\n Trump had earlier threatened to impose tariffs on China after reports emerged that Beijing could supply air defense systems to Tehran. He had also said that China could face \u201cbig problems\u201d if it went ahead with its shipment of air defenses for Iran.<\/p>\n Peter Schiff\u2019s Oil Warning, JB Pritzker Touts E15 Gas<\/p>\n Schiff had earlier said that the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz could severely impact crude oil prices, warning that the oil prices could hit $150\/barrel in the coming days amid escalating tensions in the region.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) shared that he was pushing to make E15 gasoline available year-round<\/a> as gas prices hit $4.188\/gallon in the U.S. E15 gasoline is a blend of 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol sourced from corn.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy: Saku_rata160520 via Shutterstock<\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0Thinking about ETFs? See what investment risks you should be aware of before you buy.<\/a><\/p>\n UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily<\/a>, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.<\/p>\n Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:<\/p>\n