The US military has announced it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT (April 13), while allowing vessels not bound for Iran to continue transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The move follows Trump’s order for a sweeping naval blockade after nearly 20 hours of talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough.
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X on Sunday. “CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” it added, appearing to soften President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks in which he said “any and all Ships” would be blocked. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the talks “went well” and that “most points were agreed to,” but insisted Tehran remained “unyielding as to the single most important issue,” declaring: “IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! Trump said he had been “fully debriefed” by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner after the Pakistan-facilitated talks. Calling the situation “WORLD EXTORTION,” Trump said the US would respond with immediate and forceful measures.
The US president accused Iran of refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions despite what he described as largely productive negotiations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan hosted high-stakes peace talks between the US and Iran over the weekend, with a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance meeting Iranian officials headed by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.