US Military Blocks All Iranian Ports As Trump’s Hormuz Threat Takes Effect

2 min readUpdated: Apr 13, 2026 07:37 PM IST

The US military began its blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday after President Donald Trump earlier announced the move in an attempt to pressure Iran to sign a deal with Washington. The move by Trump administration could risk driving the oil prices even higher and jeopardise the two-week ceasefire.

Iran, meanwhile, has announced a threat on all ports surrounding the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. According to Tehran’s IRIB, “Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for no one.” The Iranian military earlier said, “No port in the region will be safe.”

https://t.co/YAFhMBm7hA
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 12, 2026

The US Central Command had earlier announced that the blockade would begin on Monday at 7:30pm IST in Iran and would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf) and Gulf of Oman.”

Watch The Video Everyone Is Talking About ➤

The Centcom further added that it’ll allow ships which are travelling between non-Iranian ports to cross the strait, which is a step away from President Trump’s earlier threat to blockade the entire Strait of Hormuz.

After Trump announced to cease the Hormuz from Monday, it paused the limited ship traffic which was ongoing in the strait since the ceasefire was announced between US-Israel and Iran on April 8, AP reported quoting Lloyd’s List intelligence report.

The AP report added that marin trackers have said 40 commercial ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the ceasefire, which has plunged from around 100 to 135 ships on a daily basis before the war.

The move by the American military comes after US-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to come up with an agreement on Saturday.

Vice president JD Vance, who was leading the US delegation, said that the talks fell short after Iran refused to accept American terms of refraining from developing a nuclear weapon.

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

Related Posts