Pentagon
US Navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz ‘effective immediately,’ Trump says
By Saad Sayeed, Asif Shahzad and Mubasher Bukhari, Reuters
Apr 12, 2026, 10:58 AM
President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. Navy would immediately start 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.
Trump also said in a post on Truth Social that the U.S. would interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran, and begin destroying mines that he said the Iranians had dropped in the strait, a choke point for about 20% of global energy supplies that Iran has blocked.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump added.
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/04/12/us-navy-to-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-effective-immediately-trump-says/
