U.S. Military Initiates Blockade of Iranian Ports Amid Escalating Tensions

Cairo: The U.S. military has announced the commencement of a blockade on all Iranian ports starting Monday, marking a significant shift from President Donald Trump’s earlier commitment to completely block the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This decision follows extensive U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan that concluded without an agreement, setting the stage for potential confrontations as Iranian leaders have vowed to respond to the blockade.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the blockade will begin at 10 a.m. EDT (5:30 p.m. local time in Iran) and will be enforced “impartially against vessels of all nations.” However, CENTCOM clarified that ships traveling between non-Iranian ports will still be permitted to transit the strait, a notable reduction from the president’s previous threats to blockade the entire waterway.

The announcement of the blockade has already impacted maritime traffic, with early reports from Lloyd’s List intelligence indicating a halt in the limited ship movement that had resumed since the ceasefire. Marine tracking data reveals that over 40 commercial vessels have crossed the strait since the ceasefire began, a significant drop from the typical 100 to 135 vessel passages per day prior to the conflict.

Tensions Escalate with Political Feuds

In a separate development, President Trump intensified his ongoing dispute with Pope Leo XIV, labeling the Catholic leader as “terrible on foreign policy” in a post on Truth Social. This remark followed the Pope’s condemnation of the war and his call for political leaders to pursue peace negotiations.

The blockade appears to be a strategic move aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, which has reportedly exported millions of barrels of oil since the onset of the conflict, often through clandestine routes that evade Western sanctions. Trump has expressed a desire to diminish Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for approximately 20% of global oil shipments prior to the outbreak of hostilities. The blockade could further destabilize global energy markets.

Iranian Response to the Blockade

In response to the U.S. blockade, several high-ranking Iranian officials have issued threats of retaliation. Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser and former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, asserted on X that Iran’s armed forces possess “major untouched levers” to counter the blockade. He emphasized that Iran would not be swayed by “tweets and imaginary plans.”

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran’s delegation during the ceasefire talks, warned Trump, stating, “If you fight, we will fight.” Additionally, the Revolutionary Guard declared that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran’s “full control,” allowing non-military vessels to pass while threatening a “forceful response” against military ships.

During the 21-hour negotiations in Pakistan, the U.S. military reported that two destroyers had transited the strait ahead of mine-clearing operations, a first since the conflict began, although Iran denied this occurrence. These talks represented the highest-level discussions between the two nations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Stalemate in Ceasefire Talks

Trump attributed the failure of the negotiations to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In remarks to Fox News, he reiterated his threat to target civilian infrastructure if Iran does not abandon its nuclear program, stating, “In one half of a day they wouldn’t have one bridge standing, they wouldn’t have one electric generating plant standing, and they’re back in the stone ages.”

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, emphasized that Washington requires “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon.”

Iranian negotiators were unable to agree to several U.S. “red lines,” according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity. These red lines included preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, halting uranium enrichment, dismantling major enrichment facilities, and allowing the retrieval of highly enriched uranium, as well as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ceasing funding for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi rebels.

Iranian officials contended that the talks collapsed over two or three critical issues, attributing the breakdown to what they described as U.S. overreach. Qalibaf noted that it was time for the United States to determine whether it could earn Iran’s trust. Iran’s foreign minister claimed that the U.S. derailed the negotiations when they were “inches” away from an agreement but did not provide supporting evidence.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, criticized the U.S. approach, stating, “We encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”

Neither Iran nor the U.S. has clarified the course of action following the ceasefire’s expiration on April 22. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar indicated that his country would seek to facilitate renewed dialogue in the coming days.

For further details, visit the original reporting source: www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-04-13 08:38:00 • By the Editorial Desk