Negotiations Fail, Trump Orders US Navy to Blockade Strait of Hormuz

Trump stated that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan were progressing well and that most points had been agreed upon. However, Trump said Tehran refused to yield on the issue of its nuclear programme. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the best in the world, will begin the process of blockading every and any ship attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, as reported by AFP news agency on Sunday (12/4/2026). “Any Iranian who shoots at us, or at peaceful ships, will be blown to hell!” he added. Trump indicated that “other countries” would be involved in the blockade effort, but he did not provide further details. US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without an agreement after weekend talks with a team led by Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Tehran’s delegation also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks were intended to strengthen a two-week ceasefire, with a final agreement to end the conflict that has ravaged the Middle East, killing thousands and disrupting global markets. However, no conclusion was reached. Trump said he had received a full report from the US negotiation team consisting of Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. Trump condemned Iran for failing to open the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes. Trump accused them of deliberately failing to comply. “They say they have laid mines in the water, even though their entire navy, and most of their ‘mine-layers’, have been completely destroyed. They might do it, but which ship owner wants to take the risk?” Trump said. “As per their promises, they should immediately begin the process of opening this international waterway quickly!” he continued. Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz for weeks, since the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign against the Islamic republic more than six weeks ago. On Saturday, the US military announced that two of its warships had crossed the strait at the start of a mine-clearing operation. Trump warned that ultimately, US forces would “finish off the remnants of Iran” if necessary. “We are fully ‘locked and loaded’ (ready for battle),” he wrote.