Washington is now seeking to choke off Tehran’s oil sales, despite issuing a waiver last month to calm global markets
President Donald Trump has not ruled out resuming “limited” strikes against Iran after ordering a naval blockade and threatening to deny “safe passage” to any ships that have complied with Tehran’s fees and rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The US president could also resume a “full-fledged bombing campaign,” though officials told the Wall Street Journal that option was “less likely.”
Global oil prices have surged above $100 after the US Department of War announced that American forces will begin enforcing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports from 10 am ET (2 pm GMT) on April 13. The move falls short of Trump’s original threat to block “any and all” ships trying to enter or leave the strait.
Americans should “enjoy” current prices at the pump, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned, adding that “soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”
Iran has warned that any hostile military activity in the waterway will be met with force, even as President Masoud Pezeshkian has said a deal would still be possible if Washington abandoned its “totalitarianism.”
US Central Command said the blockade would apply to vessels of all nations calling at Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, but insisted that it would not impede freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for ships travelling to and from non-Iranian ports.
After the collapse of marathon 21-hour negotiations in Islamabad, Vice President J.D. Vance said Washington had left Pakistan with its “final and best offer” still on the table, while Tehran said the process broke down because of “excessive” or “unreasonable” American demands.
Washington has framed the impasse around its demand for a binding commitment that Iran not pursue a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials say the US tried to win at the negotiating table what it failed to secure during the war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Islamabad talks came within “inches” of reaching a memorandum of understanding before the process was derailed by “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
