Trump says the U.S. will blockade the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, April 12, 2026, that the U.S. Navy will immediately blockade the Strait of Hormuz after talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended without a war-ending agreement. The move puts the two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran in a fragile state.

Trump orders blockade and mine-clearing

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would block any vessel in international waters that had previously paid Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and would begin mine-clearing operations that he said Iran had laid in the strait.

The White House said in the post: “Immediately, the United States Navy—the strongest naval force in the world—will begin the process of blockade of any and all ships attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump added that he had directed the U.S. Navy to locate and intercept vessels in international waters that had paid what he called an “illegal fee” to Iran, saying “No vessel that has paid that unlawful fee can safely navigate international waters.”

He also wrote: “If Iran fires at us or at peaceful ships, they will be dealt with.”

Talks in Islamabad end without agreement

After the talks in Islamabad concluded without result, the United States and Iran accused each other of blocking the negotiations, Reuters reported.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, said after the talks closed that no agreement was reached and that the outcome was “bad news more for Iran than for the United States.” He said the U.S. had “made very clear what our limits were,” including that Iran did not accept U.S. conditions, such as not pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

On the Iranian side, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the delegation along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, accused the United States of failing to win Iran’s trust despite what he described as the Iranian delegation presenting “future-oriented ideas.” Ghalibaf wrote on X that Iran must decide whether it will “earn our trust.”

Nuclear demands and Hormuz issues remain central

In his Truth Social post, Trump said the biggest issue is Iran’s refusal to renounce its nuclear ambitions.

Tasnim News Agency said U.S. demands were “unreasonable” and hindered reaching an agreement. Other Iranian outlets reported that the two sides reached agreement on some points, but that the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program remained key sticking points.

Israel’s Security Minister Zeev Elkin told Army Radio that continued negotiations remain a possibility, but added: “Iran is playing with fire.”

Ceasefire tensions and regional conflict

As negotiations stalled, Israel continued striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which Israel said is not part of the Iran-U.S. cease-fire, while Iran said fighting in Lebanon must end.

State television and Iranian officials said Tehran seeks control of the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damages, a regional cease-fire across the area including Lebanon, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and wants transit fees at the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping through the strait during the ceasefire

Maritime data showed three large oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, appearing to be among the first to exit the Gulf since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was announced. However, hundreds of other tankers remained stuck in the Gulf waiting to pass through the strait during the two-week ceasefire.

U.S. objectives

For the United States, the two main objectives attributed to President Trump are to open the Strait of Hormuz and to end Iran’s uranium enrichment program to prevent the production of a nuclear bomb.