Trump Orders Naval Blockade After 21 Hours of Failed Negotiations in Islamabad; Iran Warns of 'Harsh Retaliation'
US President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, effective from Monday 13 April, after peace talks with Iran collapsed in Islamabad following 21 hours of failed negotiations — sending global oil prices surging 8% to over $100 a barrel and raising fears of a major escalation in the Middle East conflict.
The Blockade Announcement
Trump announced on Sunday that the US military would block ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas via the Strait of Hormuz, with the blockade taking effect at 10am ET (2pm GMT) on Monday 13 April. US Central Command (CENTCOM) clarified that the blockade would be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports, but that US forces would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait to and from non-Iranian ports — a partial step back from Trump's earlier, broader statements.
The announcement followed the collapse of 21 hours of face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf. Vance stated that Iran refused to commit to not seeking nuclear weapons. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was "inches away" from a deal but encountered "maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade" from the US side.
Iran's Response
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any military vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz to enforce the blockade would be considered a ceasefire violation and would be "dealt with severely." Iran's navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump's threat "ridiculous," while asserting that the Strait remained under Iranian control and open for the safe passage of non-military vessels.
Economic Shockwaves
The announcement sent immediate shockwaves through global energy markets. Brent crude futures surged 7.47% to $102.31 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose 8.14% to $104.43. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's seaborne oil trade and 20% of global liquefied natural gas typically passes. The UK stated it would not participate in the blockade, affirming its commitment to working with France and other partners to protect freedom of navigation.
Wider Conflict
The blockade announcement comes amid ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and a tragic incident on the night of 12 April in which an Israeli strike in Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon, killed a Red Cross paramedic despite prior arrangements for safe passage. Pope Leo XIV — the first American pope — has condemned Trump's rhetoric as "truly unacceptable," prompting a sharp response from the US president. Full Guardian report.
