The United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as both sides continue to exchange threats, and now says that no tankers have made their way through the Straight of Hormuz to dock at Iranian ports. The move comes after a fragile ceasefire held for days but failed to produce a lasting agreement.
Officials say new talks could still happen this week, though nothing is locked in yet. Two US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, said talks were ongoing about another round that could take place as early as Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but critically important shipping lane for global oil. Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the waterway since the conflict began Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes. Markets have reacted, and prices for oil and basic goods have surged around the world.
Pakistan has stepped in to play mediator. Two Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter with the media, said that earlier talks were part of a broader diplomatic effort and not a one-off meeting. Islamabad has proposed hosting another round in the coming days.
On the water, enforcement of the blockade appeared unclear in its first full day. Tankers approaching the strait initially turned away Monday, though one vessel later completed the transit Tuesday. The tanker Rich Starry, previously waiting off the United Arab Emirates, reportedly moved through the strait, according to shipping data cited by Lloyd’s List. The vessel is listed by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as linked to Iranian shipping and is reportedly bound for China.
US Central Command said that the blockade applies to vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and said that no ships made their way to any Iranian ports through Hormuz and were instead diverted to Oman.
"More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman," Central Command posted to X.
"The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," their post concludes.
President Donald Trump described Iran’s actions in the strait as coercive and warned of military consequences. He said in a social media post that Iran’s navy had been “completely obliterated,” but still had “fast attack ships.” He added that “if any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”
Iran signalled it would respond if attacked. “If you fight, we will fight,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a statement addressed to Trump.
The war has entered its seventh week, with at least 3,000 people reported killed in Iran, more than 2,000 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon are set to hold direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, the first in decades. The discussions are expected to focus on initial parameters rather than a full resolution. Israel has continued operations in Lebanon despite the Iran ceasefire, while Lebanese officials are pushing for a halt to fighting and Israel is seeking Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Officials say new talks could still happen this week, though nothing is locked in yet. Two US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, said talks were ongoing about another round that could take place as early as Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but critically important shipping lane for global oil. Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the waterway since the conflict began Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes. Markets have reacted, and prices for oil and basic goods have surged around the world.
Pakistan has stepped in to play mediator. Two Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter with the media, said that earlier talks were part of a broader diplomatic effort and not a one-off meeting. Islamabad has proposed hosting another round in the coming days.
On the water, enforcement of the blockade appeared unclear in its first full day. Tankers approaching the strait initially turned away Monday, though one vessel later completed the transit Tuesday. The tanker Rich Starry, previously waiting off the United Arab Emirates, reportedly moved through the strait, according to shipping data cited by Lloyd’s List. The vessel is listed by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as linked to Iranian shipping and is reportedly bound for China.
US Central Command said that the blockade applies to vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and said that no ships made their way to any Iranian ports through Hormuz and were instead diverted to Oman.
"More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman," Central Command posted to X.
"The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," their post concludes.
President Donald Trump described Iran’s actions in the strait as coercive and warned of military consequences. He said in a social media post that Iran’s navy had been “completely obliterated,” but still had “fast attack ships.” He added that “if any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”
Iran signalled it would respond if attacked. “If you fight, we will fight,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a statement addressed to Trump.
The war has entered its seventh week, with at least 3,000 people reported killed in Iran, more than 2,000 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon are set to hold direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, the first in decades. The discussions are expected to focus on initial parameters rather than a full resolution. Israel has continued operations in Lebanon despite the Iran ceasefire, while Lebanese officials are pushing for a halt to fighting and Israel is seeking Hezbollah’s disarmament.
