US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping naval blockade of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions with Iran after high-stakes peace talks failed in Pakistan.
In a statement, Trump declared that the United States Navy would begin “immediately” blocking all vessels attempting to enter or exit the key global oil transit route.
“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 wrote, adding a stark warning that any Iranian aggression would be met with overwhelming force.
The announcement follows the breakdown of marathon negotiations in Islamabad between US and Iranian officials, which had aimed to stabilise a fragile two-week ceasefire in a conflict that has already left thousands dead and disrupted global energy markets.
Iran’s delegation, led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected US pressure, signalling Tehran would not yield to threats.
“If they fight, we will fight, and if they come forward with logic, we will deal with logic,” Ghalibaf said after returning to Tehran.
“We will not bow to any threats.”
The talks in Pakistan marked the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in decades, with Vice President JD Vance leading the American delegation.
Despite hours of negotiations, both sides failed to reach an agreement on key sticking points, including control of the Strait of Hormuz and broader security guarantees.
Vance said as he departed Islamabad without a deal,
“We leave here with a very simple proposal… our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
Tensions had already been rising ahead of Trump’s announcement. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly released footage showing a confrontation between its naval forces and US warships in the strait, issuing warnings for American vessels to “alter course” or face targeting.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical النفط chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil supplies passing through it. Any disruption has immediate implications for international energy markets and global trade.
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