Return to fighting? US blockade of Hormuz to begin today as Trump weighs limited strikes on Iran

The naval blockade on Iran is set to take effect on Monday afternoon local time, U.S. President Donald Trump said following his announcement on Sunday.

The announcement was made in a post on Trump's Truth Social account: “The United States to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports on April 13 at 10:00 A.M. ET. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT.”  

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it will begin blocking all vessels headed to or from Iranian ports starting 17:00 (10 a.m. Eastern time) on Monday.

To clarify a previous statement by President Trump, which said the United States would block “any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM noted that the blockade “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.” 

https://t.co/YAFhMBm7hA

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 12, 2026

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday, when he first announced the blockade. “At some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, ‘There may be a mine out there somewhere,’ that nobody knows about but them.” 

Trump also said he had instructed the U.S. Navy “to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” 

“We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits,” he added. 

Oil prices rose in early market trading on Sunday in response to Trump’s blockade announcement, with U.S. crude reaching $104.24 per barrel, and Brent crude reaching $102.29. Oil prices have remained volatile throughout the conflict, often reacting sharply to statements released by President Trump. 

Trump also called Iran’s attempt to force vessels to transit through Iranian waters near Qeshm Island by placing mines in the Strait “world extortion.” He repeated his claim that the U.S. would clear the waterway of mines, asserting, “We’re sweeping the strait.” 

The issue of mines in the Strait of Hormuz highlights how, despite the success of the U.S. military in destroying much of Iran’s larger naval fleet, smaller IRGC fast boats remain a continuing threat due to their ability to deploy mines and launch ship-to-ship missiles.

According to The Wall Street Journal, approximately 60% of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast boat fleet remains intact. These vessels are smaller and harder to spot with satellite imaging or high-altitude drones. Additionally, the IRGC keeps the vessels hidden or even in underground pens throughout the rocky coastline, making finding and destroying them a difficult task. 

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said Iran could seek a return to negotiations, following the collapse of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, early Sunday morning. 

“I think Iran is in very bad shape,” Trump said. “I think they’re pretty desperate.” However, he claimed not to care about the negotiations. “I don’t care if they come back or not,” he said. If they don’t come back, I’m fine.” 

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the White House is considering resuming limited strikes on Iran alongside the naval blockade, in an attempt to force the Islamic Republic into making concessions. The report cited “officials and people familiar with the situation,” while saying the option of resumed strikes is only one of several options being considered by the U.S. president. 

At the same time, Israeli media reported that the IDF is preparing for the resumption of military operations in Iran. Reports in multiple Hebrew-language news agencies said the IDF is preparing for renewed conflict, with some reports saying the military believes the war ended “too early, without sufficient pressure being applied on Iran regarding the nuclear issue and ballistic missiles.” 

Channel 13 News reported that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir instructed the Israeli military “to prepare for an immediate resumption of fighting and ordered the initiation of combat readiness procedures.”