Published April 13, 2026 — last updated April 13, 2026
The US military announced it will begin a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, to be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations using Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. US Central Command said the blockade would start at 5:30 p.m. Iranian local time (1400 GMT) and that ships traveling between non-Iranian ports would still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump confirmed the military statement and said the goal was to clear mines and reopen the strait to all shipping while preventing Iran from profiting from control of the waterway. Iran’s leaders vowed to counter the blockade. Iran’s military called the move illegal and described it as piracy, warning that if the security of Iran’s ports were threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea would be safe. The Revolutionary Guards previously said they had full control of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and would trap any challenger “in a deadly vortex.”
Despite US assurances the blockade would not restrict transit through the Strait of Hormuz, most oil tankers were avoiding the waterway. MarineTraffic data showed just four tankers carrying oil, gas or chemicals had crossed the strait on Monday, compared with an average of 138 ships per day before the conflict began on February 28, according to the multinational Joint Maritime Information Center. Hundreds of ships remain stuck in the region, with tanker owners warning thousands of crew members face shortages of water and food.
The strait is a vital route for global energy and commodities: about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas and nearly half of traded urea normally pass through it. The disruption has pushed oil prices sharply higher — US crude jumped about 8% to just over $104 a barrel and Brent rose about 7% above $102 on Monday, compared with roughly $70 a barrel before the war began.
Political reactions in Europe were mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron said France and the UK will soon hold an international conference to discuss a potential “strictly defensive” naval mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, separate from the warring parties, and reiterated that diplomatic efforts must be redoubled to reach a lasting settlement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would not be coerced into participating in the US-Israeli war on Iran or supporting the US-announced blockade, telling BBC Radio 5 Live that Britain was focused on getting the strait fully reopened; he noted UK minesweepers were deployed to help reopen the waterway.
Germany’s Economy Ministry warned the conflict would likely have long-term effects on the German economy through 2026, with high energy prices, supply problems and economic burdens persisting even after any resolution. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a temporary cut in energy taxes on diesel and petrol to cushion consumers against surging prices.
Tensions extended beyond state actors. President Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff appealed for peace in the Middle East; Trump called the pope “weak on crime” and criticized his stance on Iran in remarks to reporters and on social media.
Background: Since the war began, Iran has effectively restricted the strait to vessels under Iranian control, saying ships would be permitted to transit only subject to Iranian oversight and fees. The US had earlier threatened a full blockade of the strategic waterway; the military statement narrowed that scope to Iranian ports while allowing non-Iranian port-to-port transit. Iranian and US delegations held talks in Pakistan over the weekend that were described as unsuccessful, with Iran’s parliament speaker saying US representatives failed to gain trust and Iranian authorities calling US demands unreasonable.
Developments remain fluid; the US said it aimed to clear mines and restore safe shipping, while Iran vowed to respond to any threats to its ports. International efforts to coordinate a response and to reopen the strait are being discussed by several governments.