Tensions rise in Hormuz as US blockade begins at 17.00 TRT
14:21, 13/04/2026, MondayU: Update: 19:35, 13/04/2026, Monday
Yeni Şafak
Yenişafak
The US has activated a naval blockade on all Iranian ports as of 17.00 TRT, following failed Islamabad talks and rising Gulf tensions. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that any military vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a ceasefire violation and will face a response.
The United States has launched a naval blockade on all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, effective Monday at 17.00 TRT. President Donald Trump announced the timing on his Truth Social platform, while US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the measure applies impartially to all ships, regardless of nationality, across Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Exemptions and regional impact
CENTCOM stated that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded. However, the move has sharply escalated tensions following the collapse of US-Iran talks in Islamabad over the weekend. The fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, is now under severe strain, with experts warning that energy prices and global inflation could rise as Gulf shipping remains disrupted.
Iran warns of ‘deadly vortex’
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warned that “any wrong move will trap the enemy in a deadly vortex in the Strait of Hormuz.” The IRGC released aerial footage of the strait, stating that all traffic remains under the control of Iran’s armed forces. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X that if Washington abandons its maximalist approach and respects Iran’s rights, “ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found.” Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that direct talks in Islamabad ended without a deal, with Iranian media blaming “excessive US demands.”