Trump Announces Naval Blockade of Iran’s Strait of Hormuz After Peace Talks Collapse

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on April 11, 2026, that the United States will begin a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after direct peace talks with Iran collapsed in Islamabad.

In a detailed post, Trump stated that while most points in the negotiations were agreed upon, the nuclear issue remained unresolved. He wrote: “So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.”

Trump then declared that the U.S. Navy will immediately begin blockading ships attempting to enter or leave the strait. “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 posted. “At some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen.”

He accused Iran of extortion and warned that any vessel paying an illegal toll would be interdicted. Trump added: “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country.”

In a second post, Trump detailed the nearly 20-hour negotiations in Islamabad and reiterated that Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions was the deal-breaker. “The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours,” he wrote. “There is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!”

He also praised the mediation efforts of Pakistan’s leadership, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and reiterated his long-standing position: “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

The announcement follows the collapse of direct U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan on April 11. The two-week ceasefire, announced by Trump on April 8, was conditional on Iran immediately and safely reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Iran has not fully complied, continuing to restrict passage despite the truce.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Iranian forces have laid mines and positioned missile systems in the waterway since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.

No immediate comment was issued by the Pentagon on operational details of the blockade. The White House has not released an official statement beyond Trump’s posts.

This marks a significant escalation following the breakdown of negotiations. The two-week ceasefire, which was set to expire on April 22 unless extended, now appears to be in serious jeopardy.

The situation remains fluid as the Trump administration shifts from diplomatic efforts to direct enforcement of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.