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President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would “immediately” move to impose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of high-stakes peace talks with Iran that ended without a deal or clear path forward.
In his first public comments after more than 20 hours of negotiations in Pakistan, Trump said he had directed the U.S. Navy to stop vessels linked to payments to Iran, signaling a dramatic escalation in efforts to curb Tehran’s influence over the critical global shipping route.
“I have instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
The president said other nations would participate in the effort but did not specify which countries or when the blockade would begin.
The announcement marks a significant attempt by the U.S. to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil shipments and has become a central pressure point in the conflict. Iran has effectively restricted access to the strait during the war, disrupting global energy markets and sending prices sharply higher.
Trump framed the move as a response to the failure of negotiations, placing blame on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and signaling that further military action remains on the table.
“We’re ready to finish up at the appropriate moment,” he said.
The talks in Islamabad were the highest-level direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in decades, but they ended Sunday with both sides accusing the other of intransigence. Neither delegation outlined next steps, leaving uncertainty over what will happen when the current 14-day ceasefire expires on April 22.
Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, said Washington is seeking firm assurances that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons or the capability to develop them quickly.
“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.
Iranian officials pushed back, accusing the U.S. of overreach and reiterating that Tehran does not seek nuclear weapons but maintains a right to peaceful nuclear energy.
“Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” an Iranian diplomatic official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Pakistani officials, who helped broker the talks, said they would continue efforts to restart negotiations, while the European Union also called for renewed diplomacy.
The impasse leaves the fragile ceasefire in doubt and raises the risk of renewed hostilities across the region. The war, which began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes, has killed thousands across Iran, Lebanon, Israel and neighboring countries, while causing widespread damage to infrastructure.
Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program remain a central sticking point. U.S. officials have demanded a rollback of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, while Tehran has rejected what it sees as excessive demands.
The blockade proposal also introduces new uncertainty for global shipping and energy markets, as it could further restrict traffic through the already disrupted strait.
During the talks, the U.S. military said it had begun operations to clear mines in the waterway, while Iran disputed those claims. Trump suggested the U.S. would continue asserting control over the strait regardless of diplomatic outcomes.
“We’re sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” he said.
The broader regional conflict remains volatile. Israel has continued strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, despite disputes over whether those operations are covered by the ceasefire agreement.
Lebanon’s government has reported ongoing casualties from Israeli strikes, underscoring the fragile and complex nature of the truce.
With negotiations stalled and military posturing intensifying, the situation in the Middle East appears increasingly uncertain as the ceasefire deadline approaches.
