President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States will begin blockading ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions after failed peace talks with Iran over the weekend.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the U.S. Navy would move quickly to enforce the blockade. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote, adding that he had instructed the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran.”
The announcement follows unsuccessful negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, where both sides had been attempting to solidify a ceasefire. Vice President J.D. Vance said Saturday evening that no agreement had been reached, confirming the collapse of talks that many had hoped would stabilize the region.
Trump later emphasized that disagreements over Iran’s nuclear ambitions ultimately derailed the discussions. “In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people,” he wrote. He added that while progress had been made on several issues, “the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supply passing through it. Since the onset of the conflict in late February, the passage has been effectively disrupted. In recent weeks, Iran has imposed tolls on vessels navigating the corridor, contributing to sharp increases in global oil and gas prices.
U.S. military operations in the region have already focused on clearing naval mines reportedly placed by Tehran, and Trump indicated those efforts would continue alongside the new blockade. He also suggested that additional countries could join the initiative, though he did not provide details.
The move is likely to intensify pressure on U.S. allies, particularly within NATO, some of whom have been reluctant to become directly involved in reopening the strait. Mark Rutte visited the White House last week amid ongoing discussions about alliance support, underscoring divisions within the bloc over how to respond.
Meanwhile, the future of the fragile two-week ceasefire remains uncertain following the breakdown in talks. Trump said he had been briefed by Vance as well as special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, both of whom were present at the negotiations.
