U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Washington would move to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions after talks with Iran failed to produce a deal to end weeks of conflict.
The announcement follows marathon negotiations in Islamabad aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire reached last week after nearly six weeks of fighting that has killed thousands and rattled global markets.
In a series of statements, Trump said the U.S. Navy had been ordered to begin blocking ships entering or leaving the strategic waterway, which handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply. He also vowed to target vessels that pay transit fees to Iran, describing such payments as illegal.
The U.S. president further warned that any Iranian attack on American forces or commercial shipping would be met with overwhelming force, while adding that Washington would begin clearing what it described as Iranian-laid naval mines in the strait.
The collapse of talks has deepened uncertainty around the ceasefire, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led Washington’s delegation, said Iran had refused key demands, including abandoning its nuclear ambitions.
Iranian officials, however, accused the United States of making excessive demands and failing to build trust. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran had put forward “forward-looking initiatives,” but questioned whether Washington was willing to meet Iran halfway.
Iran has reportedly demanded broader regional concessions, including a ceasefire in Lebanon, war reparations, and greater control over the Strait of Hormuz, as well as access to frozen financial assets abroad.
Despite the diplomatic impasse, limited maritime traffic has resumed, with several oil tankers passing through the strait following the ceasefire announcement.
Meanwhile, fighting continues elsewhere in the region. Israel has maintained airstrikes against Iran-aligned Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, underscoring the fragile and fragmented nature of the truce.
Diplomatic pressure is mounting to preserve the ceasefire. Pakistan’s foreign minister called ongoing restraint “imperative,” while Pope Leo urged a lasting end to hostilities, particularly in Lebanon.