U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade targeting shipping to and from Iranian ports after peace talks with Tehran in Islamabad ended without a deal, sharply escalating the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and increasing the risk of a wider confrontation. Reuters reported that U.S. Central Command said the blockade would begin on Monday and would apply to all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Ships transiting Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations would still be allowed through.
That is the key correction to your draft: Trump did not announce a blanket blockade of every vessel in the Strait itself. The Reuters reporting says the action is focused on Iranian port traffic, though Trump also threatened that vessels which had paid tolls to Iran would be stopped in international waters. Reuters separately reported that oil tankers were already steering clear of Hormuz ahead of the U.S. move, showing how quickly the threat is affecting shipping behaviour and energy markets.
The blockade order came after marathon negotiations in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough. Reuters said Vice President JD Vance blamed the deadlock on Iran’s refusal to accept Washington’s terms, especially a demand for a binding commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons or the tools needed to develop them quickly. Iran, for its part, described the talks as “intensive” but accused the United States of making excessive and unlawful demands.
Trump also renewed his threat to strike Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure. Reuters reported earlier in the week that he had threatened to target Iran’s power grid and other civilian systems if diplomacy failed, though he later avoided spelling out operational details after a temporary ceasefire was announced.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the standoff. Reuters reported this week that Iran had floated the idea of charging ships to transit the waterway, a proposal the U.N.’s shipping agency called a dangerous precedent under international law. Hormuz normally carries around a fifth of the world’s traded oil, so even limited disruption there has already sent oil prices sharply higher. Reuters said Brent crude jumped above $102 a barrel after the talks collapsed and the blockade announcement was made
