Trump Says Blockade Of Iranian Ports To Be 'Very Effective' As Ceasefire Talks Falters

Last Updated:April 13, 2026, 07:25 IST

Trump said the blockade would begin on Monday and claimed that several other countries were cooperating with the United States to curb Iran’s oil exports.

US President Donald Trump said a planned US naval blockade of Iranian ports would be “very effective," signalling a sharp escalation after ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran collapsed without an agreement.

Speaking to reporters before departing for Washington, DC, Trump said the blockade would begin on Monday and claimed that several other countries were cooperating with the United States to curb Iran’s oil exports.

The move follows the breakdown of marathon negotiations held over the weekend in Pakistan’s Islamabad.

The US military later confirmed that the operation would target all Iranian ports, with enforcement starting at 10 am EDT.

US Central Command said the blockade would be applied “impartially" to vessels of all nations, while still allowing ships travelling between non-Iranian ports to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The clarification marked a step back from Trump’s earlier threat to shut the entire strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy supplies, handling about 20% of the world’s oil shipments before the conflict erupted.

Although some traffic has resumed since the ceasefire, shipping data shows activity remains well below normal levels.

Markets reacted swiftly to the announcement. Oil prices jumped sharply in early trading, with US crude rising about 8% and Brent crude climbing roughly 7%, underscoring fears that tighter controls could further disrupt global energy flows.

Iranian officials dismissed the US plan as unworkable. Mohsen Rezaee, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, said the blockade was “doomed to failure," warning that Iran’s armed forces would not allow it to be enforced.

“Iran is not a place to be surrounded by tweets and imaginary plans," he was quoted as saying by state media.

Trump argued that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were central to the collapse of the talks and reiterated that all options remained on the table.

In response, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf struck a defiant tone, declaring: “If you fight, we will fight."

Security analysts cautioned that a sustained blockade could be difficult to maintain and risks deepening regional instability, while increasing pressure on already volatile global energy markets.

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