The United States military says a blockade targeting Iranian ports will begin on Monday, escalating tensions after negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without an agreement.
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In a statement, the United States Central Command said it would not obstruct vessels travelling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz if they were heading to or from non-Iranian ports. The passage is one of the world’s most critical routes for global oil shipments.
The move follows a message posted on Truth Social by US President Donald Trump, who said the US Navy would “blockade any and all ships” attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports via the strait.
Talks collapse after dispute over nuclear programme
Trump said negotiations held in Islamabad had failed because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Iranian officials gave a different account of the talks, saying the two sides had been close to an agreement before Washington adopted what they described as maximalist demands and shifting conditions.
The negotiations were led on the Iranian side by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said Tehran would not yield to pressure.
“Iran will not submit to any threat,” Ghalibaf said in remarks carried by local media following the talks.
Iran warns military vessels over Strait of Hormuz
Tensions increased further after Iran’s naval forces issued a warning over the presence of foreign military ships in the region.
The naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as violating a ceasefire and could face a severe response.
The warning underscored the strategic importance of the waterway, through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes.
Oil prices rise amid fears of deeper energy crisis
Energy markets reacted sharply to the diplomatic breakdown and the prospect of military confrontation.
Global benchmark Brent crude climbed more than 7% to $102.37 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose about 8% to $104.56 as trading resumed on Sunday.
Analysts said the failure of the negotiations has intensified fears that the conflict could worsen disruptions to energy supplies, potentially prolonging the global energy crisis.
Ghalibaf also criticised Trump on social media, posting a message on X suggesting Americans could soon face significantly higher fuel costs if the blockade goes ahead.
“Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote, adding that US motorists might soon look back nostalgically on gasoline prices between $4 and $5 a gallon.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 13 April 2026
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