Trump Orders Blockade of Strait of Hormuz After US-Iran Peace Talks Collapse
President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Navy to initiate a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, starting on April 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). This directive came after the breakdown of critical peace negotiations between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, Pakistan, which concluded on April 12 after over 21 hours of discussions. The blockade is a reaction to what the Trump administration characterized as Iran's "unyielding" refusal to relinquish its nuclear aspirations and its "extortion" of global shipping through the enforcement of unlawful tolls. Enforcement: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the U.S. Navy will impartially intercept all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal regions. CENTCOM specified that the blockade will not obstruct vessels passing through the Strait to or from non-Iranian ports, including those in neighboring Gulf states. President Trump explicitly instructed the Navy to...