US President Donald Trump has decided to impose a blockade related to the Strait of Hormuz. On April 13, he confirmed that the US would target ships “entering or exiting Iranian ports.” This appeared slightly different from his April 12 pledge to block all vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz itself. It also suggests the move could extend to other Iranian ports, such as Jask or Chabahar.
The blockade was set to begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, which is in the afternoon in Iran. Whether this marks a bold new strategy or a sign the US is grasping at straws remains to be seen. The effort appears aimed at turning the tables on Iran by calling its bluff and confronting it on its own terms. The question now is: will it work?
The goal of the blockade is to prevent Iran from selling oil, Trump indicated in remarks to Fox News. Over the past week, countries across the region have been on a roller coaster, uncertain about Washington’s next move. A ceasefire was announced on April 8, prompting Middle Eastern states to resume canceled flights and economic activity. The US Navy also deployed additional vessels to the Strait of Hormuz.
However, ceasefire talks in Islamabad appeared to fall short of their objectives on April 12. US Vice President JD Vance had been in Pakistan a day earlier, holding discussions with Iranian officials, but key US demands were not met.
“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I'm fine”
The outcome has left many countries wondering what comes next. Trump has now indicated that the blockade is the next step. Saudi outlet Arab News reported that Trump signaled little concern over whether Iran returns to negotiations. In the past, the US president has threatened to destroy Iranian civilization and even “bomb the country to the Stone Age.” The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, during an earlier round of talks hosted by Oman.
“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I'm fine,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Arab News reported that “oil tankers are steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a US blockade later on Monday following failed peace talks between the US and Iran over the weekend, shipping data showed.” It added that “President Donald Trump said on Sunday the US Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardizing a fragile two-week ceasefire.”
United States Central Command and its naval component are expected to carry out the blockade. Meanwhile, the world is left watching closely for what comes next. CNN reported that “oil prices have again topped $100 a barrel and Asian markets fell,” as the collapse of talks and the looming blockade threatened to further disrupt the global economy.
At the same time, Washington has opened a new front of tensions—this time with the Vatican. Trump has sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV, who has spoken out against the war in line with longstanding papal positions. However, US officials appear frustrated that the Pope, an American, has taken such a stance publicly.
In recent weeks, the US has also clashed with NATO allies and other partners, signaling a broader diplomatic strain. Meanwhile, China is closely monitoring developments as the situation continues to evolve.
United States Central Command said that “forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation. 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. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
The US approach to the blockade is notable from a historical perspective. Washington has long positioned itself as a defender of freedom of navigation on the world’s seas, yet it is now moving to enforce a blockade—an action typically considered an act of war. Notably, the US has not formally declared war on Iran.
There are, however, historical precedents that fall short of a formal declaration of war. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, US President John F. Kennedy ordered a “quarantine” of Cuba, a move that brought US and Soviet naval forces to the brink of confrontation. Earlier, during the American Civil War, the US imposed a naval blockade on the Confederacy as part of General Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan, a central pillar of Union strategy.
Blockades have played key roles in other conflicts as well. In World War II, Germany attempted to choke off Britain using U-boat submarine warfare, while during the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon sought to isolate Britain through a continental system of economic blockade. Naval blockades were also used with mixed success during 19th-century conflicts such as the sieges of Montevideo in Uruguay.
The current US strategy appears aimed at turning the tables on Iran by confronting it with similar tactics. Tehran has previously threatened to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington now appears to be countering by effectively “blockading the blockaders.”
Still, the plan faces practical challenges. Iran is believed to have around 23 million barrels of crude oil stored on tankers off its coast, according to TankerTrackers.com, potentially complicating enforcement efforts. Questions also remain about how the US would handle vessels from countries such as China entering Iranian ports. As the situation develops, the strategy poses a complex, high-stakes test with many moving parts.