Trump Orders US Navy Blockade of Strait of Hormuz After Iran Peace Talks Collapse

US President Donald Trump ordered an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, April 12, hours after peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed after 21 hours without a deal. Trump announced the move in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that the US Navy would "begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz" with immediate effect. The central sticking point in the negotiations was Iran's refusal to commit to abandoning its nuclear program, which Trump described as "the only one that really mattered." Trump also instructed the Navy to interdict any vessel in international waters that had paid a transit toll to Iran, calling such fees illegal and warning that "no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas." The announcement raised immediate questions about the fate of a fragile two-week ceasefire between the two countries, currently set to expire on April 22, 2026.

Vance confirms nuclear impasse sank Islamabad marathon talks US Vice President JD Vance, speaking to journalists before departing Islamabad aboard Air Force Two, confirmed that the breakdown centered on Iran's refusal to make a binding commitment on nuclear weapons. „The fact is, we need an explicit commitment that they are not seeking a nuclear weapon” — JD Vance via Deutsche Welle Vance said the commitment must also apply "long-term" and added: "We haven't seen that yet. We hope we will see it." He described the talks as involving "significant discussions with the Iranians" and said the US delegation had presented Tehran with a "final and best offer" before leaving. „We will see if the Iranians accept it” — JD Vance via Deutsche Welle Vance characterized the failure as more damaging to Iran than to the United States, saying: "I think that for Iran, this is much worse news than for the United States of America." The US delegation included Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Deutsche Welle. Trump, for his part, acknowledged that the talks had "gone well" and that "most points were agreed," but said the nuclear file was the insurmountable obstacle.

Two destroyers already in Persian Gulf, mines targeted for destruction CENTCOM confirmed that two US Navy destroyers had already transited the Strait of Hormuz and were operating in the Persian Gulf as the blockade order was issued. CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper stated: "We have begun to establish safe passage," according to Berliner Zeitung. The command added that additional forces, including underwater drones, were to be deployed in the coming days with the goal of making the shipping route fully usable again. Trump also ordered the Navy to begin destroying sea mines that Iran had placed in the strait, accusing Tehran of using the threat of mines as leverage against the international community — a strategy he labeled "global blackmail." Trump claimed that large parts of the Iranian Navy and most Iranian mine-laying boats had already been destroyed, though Berliner Zeitung noted these claims could not be independently verified. Trump further warned that any Iranian attack on US ships or forces would trigger an immediate response, writing that any Iranian who fires at US or peaceful ships "will be destroyed in hell," according to oko.press. 2 (US Navy destroyers) — already transited Strait of Hormuz into Persian Gulf

The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the most critical shipping chokepoints in the world, particularly for global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Since the beginning of US and Israeli military strikes on targets in Iran on February 28, 2026, very few commercial vessels have been able to transit the strait, triggering a worldwide increase in energy and raw material prices, according to Deutsche Welle. The US-Iran conflict, known as Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, and resulted in the death of then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial strikes. Iran subsequently appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, as Supreme Leader in March 2026. The United States has long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons; Tehran has consistently rejected this, maintaining that its uranium enrichment program serves exclusively civilian purposes.

Iranians in Tehran blame Washington, vow to stand firm In Tehran, Iranian officials and citizens reacted to the collapse of the talks by placing responsibility squarely on Washington, though Iranian counterparts did not specify which demands they found unacceptable. Iranian state television reported that the US had burdened the negotiations with "unacceptable demands," according to Deutsche Welle. On the streets of the Iranian capital, residents expressed a mix of disappointment and defiance. Farhad Simia, 43, told the Associated Press he favored negotiation over conflict but attributed the failure to "inappropriate demands" by the United States. Mehdi Hosseini, also 43, suggested that the Iranian negotiating team had preserved battlefield gains while refusing to capitulate, calling that "reason for hope." Hamid Haghi, 55, framed the breakdown as a matter of sovereignty, saying the US wanted "to come to the Strait of Hormuz, which is a legacy from our fathers." Large billboards in Tehran depicted Iranian forces capturing miniature US military aircraft and warships in a fishing net, with one reading "The Strait Remains Closed," according to The Independent. The strait now sits at the center of a standoff with no confirmed diplomatic path forward before the ceasefire deadline of April 22, 2026.

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