Trump’s blockade of Iranian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz commences

Published April 13, 2026 10:28am ET | Updated April 13, 2026 11:16am ET



The U.S. military, as directed by President Donald Trump, began a blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on Monday, the latest maneuver from the president following the unsuccessful talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend.

The president’s decision represents a new tactic that the military is employing, one in which it will try to remove Iran’s leverage over the waterway that has sent the global economy into a frenzy.

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