Washington: April 14, 2026
The U.S. military blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas went into effect at 10 a.m. ET Monday, with the Pentagon confirming that vessels may transit the Strait of Hormuz only if traveling between non-Iranian ports. The move effectively begins a U.S.-enforced block on Hormuz for Iran-bound shipping, choking access to Tehran’s key maritime trade routes.
President Donald Trump escalated warnings to Iran, vowing to “kill” any Iranian warships that approach the U.S. blockade of ports. He had earlier stated the U.S. Navy would prevent ships from passing through the strategic waterway, marking a sharp shift from the previous limited-access policy.
Iran’s armed forces denounced the blockade as “piracy,” declaring the country’s ports are “either for everyone or for no one.” The action brought traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil, to an effective standstill. Oil prices surged overnight to well above $100 a barrel as global markets reacted to supply fears, with stocks falling sharply.
Trump said the current ceasefire with Iran is “holding well” but added, “I don’t care” whether Tehran returns to the negotiating table after weekend talks collapsed without a peace deal. The remarks signaled little U.S. interest in resuming diplomacy ahead of the truce deadline.
Ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran ended in the early hours of Sunday in Islamabad, Pakistan, without an agreement. Both sides blamed each other for the failure, raising uncertainty over what happens when the current two-week truce expires on April 22.
The human cost of the wider conflict continues to rise. Iran’s forensic chief said more than 3,000 people had been killed in the country since U.S.-Israeli strikes began Feb. 28. More than 2,000 have been killed in Lebanon, 32 in Gulf states, and 23 in Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, with two more dying of noncombat causes. No new talks have been scheduled.
Edited By: Kimbawinu Vaiphei
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