US Military begins blockade of Iranian ports over deadlocked Strait of Hormuz

*The stall in talks between the United States and Iran. In Islamabad, reportedly dashes global hopes of a deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands of people, and disrupted the global economy since it began February 28

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

United States (US) President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social platform, has confirmed the US Military’s statement, a more limited operation than envisaged in his earlier post that asserted all ships trying to enter or exit the strait would be blocked.

The US Military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, April 13, 2026, after reported collapse of the talks between the warring sides in Pakistan.

Ericsson restates commitment to improved Nigerian telecoms sector, digital infrastructure

President Trump, howrver, has blamed the development on the Islamic Republic’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Earlier, Trump had announced on social media the American country would blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz trading route, which he has been demanding Tehran fully reopen.

US Vice-President JD Vance left negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad Sunday, AFP report said.

The stall in talks dashed global hopes of a deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands and thrown the global economy into turmoil since it began February 28.

As negotiating teams flew out, mediator Pakistan said it would keep facilitating their dialogue, and has urged both sides to honour the fragile two-week ceasefire struck last week that experts said could be put at risk by any maritime military blockade.

The US Central Command, in a statement, opted the blockade would begin at 1400 GMT Monday, April 13.

It stated: “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.”

US forces would not impede vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, it added.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, confirmed the US Military’s statement, a more limited operation than envisaged in his earlier post that asserted all ships trying to enter or exit the strait would be blocked.

Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, however, had warned before the US Military announcement that they had full control of traffic through Hormuz, and would trap any challenger “in a deadly vortex”.

In his lengthy social media post, Trump said Sunday, that his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping.

He, nonetheless, said Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway.

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.

“Any Iranian, who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”

Meanwhile, oil prices — which tumbled last week after the temporary ceasefire  — jumped around eight percent Monday, with both key WTI and Brent contracts topping $100 a barrel.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation in Pakistan, said Tehran would “not bow to any threats” from Washington, while navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump’s blockade threat “ridiculous”.

After the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution failed to deliver a deal, Iranian foreign ministry Abbas Araghchi blamed “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and (a) blockade” that prevented an agreement he said they were “just inches away from.”

Trump told reporters Sunday he was ambivalent on the prospect of talks continuing with Iran.

He further stated: “I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine.”

‘Final and best offer’

Tehran has already been restricting traffic through the strait — a key route for global oil and gas shipments — while allowing some vessels serving friendly countries such as China to pass.

Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at Sciences Po’s Centre for International Research, said a US blockade was “not a minor coercive signal” but could rather be considered an effective resumption of the war.

The US military said Saturday that two US Navy warships had transited the strait to begin clearing it of mines, a claim Tehran denied.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported Sunday that two Pakistan-flagged oil tankers bound for the strait had turned back.

But the Strait was far from the only friction point jettisoning global efforts led by Pakistan to end the war, which began when Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, which retaliated by attacking Gulf and Israeli cities.

The US delegation in Islamabad — led by Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — was frustrated by Iran’s refusal to give up what it called its right to a nuclear programme.

“I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump later posted.

Vance told reporters in Islamabad that Washington had made Tehran its “final and best offer.

“We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”

Kindly Share This Story