Trump announces US Navy blockade of Strait of Hormuz after Iran talks fail

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy would swiftly begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, following U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan that ended without an agreement.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, or 5:30 p.m. in Iran. CENTCOM stated the blockade will be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” and that ships traveling between non-Iranian ports would still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and Iran concluded 21 hours of face-to-face talks in Islamabad without reaching a deal, leaving the fate of the fragile, two-week ceasefire unclear. The war, which has killed thousands and shaken global markets, has entered its seventh week.

Speaking to reporters outside Washington, Trump stated, “I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine.” He added that during weekend negotiations led by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Iran indicated they were pursuing a nuclear weapon. “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump declared.

Trump also attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday, urging the pontiff to “stop catering to the Radical Left.” He later told reporters, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon,” and that he was “not a fan of Pope Leo.” These comments followed Pope Leo XIV's denunciation of the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and his call for leaders to negotiate peace.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported Sunday that “all traffic” through the Strait of Hormuz stopped after Trump’s announcement on Truth Social. Two vessels leaving the strait reportedly turned around. Traffic had begun to return in the days prior following the U.S. and Iran's agreement to pause the conflict.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and stated that the United States had not requested Australian assistance for the blockade. “We’ve received no requests, and they’ve made this announcement overnight and they’ve done that in a unilateral way. And we haven’t been asked to participate,” Albanese told Nine Network television. He emphasized the desire for negotiations to resume, an end to the conflict, and freedom of navigation as required by international law.

The U.S. military’s logistical plans for blockading the Strait of Hormuz appear to be scaled down from Trump’s initial threat to blockade “any and all” ships. The military clarified that passage for ships traveling between non-Iranian ports would still be permitted.

Samir Madani, co-founder of Tankertrackers.com, reported that their monitoring group identified 10 “Very Large Crude Carrier” supertankers and 1 Suezmax tanker in the Gulf of Oman over the weekend, holding up to 21 million barrels of oil. Iran might be storing this oil to regulate exports or in case of disturbances at the Kharg Island terminal, which was struck by the U.S. during the war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X that Iran negotiated with the U.S. in “good faith” but encountered “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” as they neared an agreement. He added, “Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.”

CENTCOM reiterated that the blockade of Iranian ports would begin Monday at 10 a.m. ET and would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, while still allowing transit between non-Iranian ports. More information would be provided to commercial vessels.

The Lebanese Red Cross reported Sunday that another paramedic was lightly wounded in an attack in Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon. At least 87 medical workers have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the war between Israel and Hezbollah began.

Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at Kings College London, called Trump’s blockade plan unrealistic, noting that Iran can sustain the conflict longer than the world economy or Gulf states. Krieg suggested Trump has “any good options” and lacks military leverage.

Brent crude oil prices, which rose from roughly $70 per barrel before the war to over $119 at times, saw Brent for June delivery fall 0.8% to $95.20 per barrel on Friday. Michael Lynch of the Energy Policy Research Foundation estimates Trump’s threatened blockade could boost oil prices by $5 to $10 when markets open Monday, potentially taking an additional 2 million barrels of oil per day off the market. Lynch believes the blockade might be short-lived, predicting Trump could abandon it by midweek if oil prices continue to rise.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf told reporters Sunday that Iran does not surrender to threats, stating, “If you fight, we will fight.” He described the talks in Pakistan as “intensive, serious and challenging,” and that Iran’s negotiators presented “strong initiatives” that led to progress, though he did not elaborate.

Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold direct talks in Washington starting Tuesday to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Protests have occurred in Beirut regarding the government’s perceived weakness in negotiating. The Lebanese government plans to demand an Israeli withdrawal, prisoner release, and the return of displaced Lebanese.

Nawaf Salam, speaking on the eve of the 51st anniversary of Lebanon’s civil war, expressed empathy for mothers who lost children in the conflict. He noted that Lebanese authorities have criticized Israeli airstrikes but also Hezbollah’s rocket launches in solidarity with Iran.

Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners stated that the blockade’s impact depends on its scope and implementation, and how Tehran responds. He noted that Iranian or Houthi reprisals against Gulf producers’ alternative routes could drive prices higher.

Jonathan Elkind of Columbia University commented that Trump’s statement about the blockade taking time adds uncertainty, questioning if it signals a climb down due to market concerns.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, stated that Vice President J.D. Vance’s goal in talks was to outline U.S. red lines, which included Iran ending uranium enrichment, dismantling facilities, allowing retrieval of enriched uranium, ending funding for Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, creating regional peace and security frameworks, and opening the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. believes the blockade will demonstrate Iran’s leverage limits.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Sunday that the conflict has “changed the face of the Middle East” and that enemies are now “fighting for their own survival.” He also mentioned Israel’s efforts to control an 8 to 10 km buffer zone inside Lebanon.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy warned Sunday that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with a firm and forceful response.”

The UNIFIL mission reported that Israeli ground troops rammed their vehicles with a Merkava tank twice on Sunday, blocking a road used by peacekeepers. UNIFIL has documented attacks on its personnel and damage to its facilities, hindering its ability to report violations.

Britain’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In an April 2 meeting, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed efforts to remove mines from the strait once the conflict diminished. Cooper convened a meeting last week to discuss restoring free movement in the shipping channel.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry submitted a “protest note” to the Iraqi ambassador regarding ongoing drone attacks launched from Iraqi territories. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, had previously announced a two-week halt to operations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that Iran is prepared to reach a deal for “lasting regional peace,” emphasizing that Iran’s national interests are a red line. Pezeshkian criticized the U.S. use of bases in Gulf countries for strikes against Iran and expressed willingness to cooperate with Gulf countries for regional security “without outside powers.”

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed “the importance of adh