President Donald Trump has implemented a threatened blockade of Iranian ports by the US military following the collapse of peace talks between the US and Iran on April 12th.
The lockdown was scheduled to begin on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET. According to U.S. Central Command, this will affect “vessels from all countries entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.”
At least 15 U.S. warships are expected to participate in the blockade, according to anonymous officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The U.S. military has not officially released details of the blockade, nor has it released information on the number of warships involved or whether fighter jets will be used. NATO allies have refused to join the blockade.
According to Reuters, U.S. authorities have told shipping companies that the blockade applies to all vessel traffic, regardless of the flag they operate in.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said ahead of peace talks in Washington that he supports President Trump’s blockade threat and vowed to continue fighting in Lebanon.
Where is Iran’s port located?
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Peace talks in Pakistan collapsed, with both countries blaming the other for the impasse. It remains unclear how the failed negotiations and threat of a U.S. blockade will affect the ongoing two-week ceasefire, USA TODAY reports.
Tanker stranded near Strait of Hormuz
In early April 2026, hundreds of tanker ships were clustered together waiting to enter the Strait of Hormuz.
How does a naval blockade work?
We need to announce a lockdown and make its boundaries clear. This allows ships from neutral countries to choose alternative routes or request passage for humanitarian reasons.
The Navy and Air Force are monitoring the area. They monitor ships approaching the area and watch for vessels carrying suspicious flags or cargo.
Vessels are tracked using:
- Transmission of transponder data or transmission of automatic identification systems
- radar
- aircraft patrol
- information report
- Coordination with partner countries
- commercial maritime data
What happens if a ship is intercepted by a warship?
According to the Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations, the steps for a naval blockade are as follows:
- A warning will be issued: Warships identify themselves. A suspicious ship was contacted and informed that it was approaching a blockade area. It has been ordered to be stopped.
- On board: A warship sends a boat carrying one or more officers to inspect and search the ship. Officers and boat crews are armed at the discretion of the warship’s commander. If a search at sea is not practical, ships are directed to neutral territory.
- Documents checked: The ship’s crew will be asked for details of the voyage, cargo, flag, and route. Crew members may be questioned.
- Boarding and search: If “reasonable cause” exists, a vessel can be seized if it is in breach of the blockade. If you resist capture, you may be attacked.
- Finally: Depending on what is discovered and the appropriate authorities, the ship may be turned around, detained, seized, or released.
According to a statement by Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari, if Iranian ports are threatened, ports in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Oman will no longer be safe. According to Iranian state media, he said the blockade of ships in international waters constituted “an act of piracy.”
Impact of Iran blockade on oil and gas prices
After President Trump announced the economic blockade, oil prices rose by more than $100 per barrel.
Contributed by Christopher Kang, Thao Nguyen
SOURCE USA TODAY Network Reports and Investigations, Reuters. US Navy. US Coast Guard. United States Naval Research Institute; International Committee of the Red Cross
