The United States is set to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran failed to produce a deal, escalating tensions and putting a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk.
According to U.S. Central Command, the blockade will begin Monday morning, targeting all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. The measure will be enforced across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, but will not restrict ships transiting to non-Iranian ports.
In a social media post, Trump warned that any vessel paying tolls to Iran would face action, as U.S. forces move to clear mines allegedly placed in the strategic waterway. He also issued a stark warning of retaliation against any attacks on U.S. or civilian vessels.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by cautioning that any military ships approaching the strait would be treated as violating the ceasefire and dealt with decisively, raising fears of further escalation.
Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, dismissed the threats, insisting they would not alter Tehran’s position. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said negotiations were conducted in good faith but were undermined by shifting U.S. demands.
The high-level talks in Islamabad, the first direct engagement between the two countries in over a decade, ended without agreement, with key disputes centered on Iran’s nuclear program, regional activities, and control of the strait.
Six weeks of conflict have already disrupted global markets, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel amid fears over supply, as the Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world’s energy shipments.
Despite the impasse, Trump expressed optimism that Iran may still return to negotiations, even as both sides trade warnings that underscore the risk of a wider confrontation.
