US military says it will blockade Iranian ports after ceasefire talks ended without agreement [View all]
Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2026, 07:20 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: AP
Updated 6:39 PM EDT, April 12, 2026
ISLAMABAD (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would swiftly begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. U.S. Central Command announced that it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, or 5:30 p.m. in Iran. CENTCOM said the blockade will be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations.” It said it would still allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump wants to weaken Iran’s key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the strait to all global traffic on the waterway that was responsible for 20% of global oil shipping before fighting began. Traffic in the Strait has been limited even in the days since the ceasefire. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire. A U.S. blockade could further rattle global energy markets.
Oil prices rose in early market trading on Sunday after the blockade announcement. The price of U.S. crude rose 8% to $104.24 a barrel, and Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 7% to $102.29. Brent crude cost roughly $70 per barrel before the war in late February.
Iran says 'if you fight, we will fight'
Iran's Revolutionary Guard later said the strait remained under Iran's "full control" and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a "forceful response," two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-12-2026-a8a0d22918fc3fb30bc3abf1cd5c5a13
Link to tweet
@CENTCOM
U.S. to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports
TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President's proclamation.
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. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade. All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.
4:52 PM · Apr 12, 2026
Article updated.
Previous article/headlines -
ISLAMABAD (AP) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would swiftly begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. U.S. Central Command announced that it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, or 5:30 p.m. in Iran. CENTCOM said the blockade will be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations." It said it would still allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump wants to weaken Iran's key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the strait to all global traffic on the waterway that was responsible for 20% of global oil shipping before fighting began. Traffic in the Strait has been limited even in the days since the ceasefire. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire.
A U.S. blockade could further rattle global energy markets. "It's going to be all or none, and that's the way it is," Trump told Fox News. Trump said on social media that he told the Navy to "seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas." He said other nations would be involved but did not name them.
Iran says 'if you fight, we will fight'
Iran's Revolutionary Guard later said the strait remained under Iran's "full control" and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a "forceful response," two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.
Updated 5:32 PM EDT, April 12, 2026
ISLAMABAD (AP) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would "immediately" begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. U.S. Central Command announced that it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10 a.m. ET. CENTCOM said the blockade will be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations."
It said it would still allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wants to weaken Iran's key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the strait to all global traffic on the waterway that was responsible for 20% of global oil shipping before fighting began. Traffic in the Strait has been limited even in the days since the ceasefire. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire.
A U.S. blockade could further rattle global energy markets. "It's going to be all or none, and that's the way it is," Trump told Fox News. Trump said on social media that he told the Navy to "seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas." He said other nations would be involved but did not name them.
Iran says 'if you fight, we will fight'
Iran's Revolutionary Guard later said the strait remained under Iran's "full control" and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a "forceful response," two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.
Original article/headline -
Updated 5:14 PM EDT, April 12, 2026
ISLAMABAD (AP) -- U.S. Central Command has announced that it will begin a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday at 10 a.m. ET.
CENTCOM said the blockade would be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations" entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.
It said it would still allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Traffic in the Strait has been limited even in the days since the ceasefire. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.
= new reply since forum marked as read