Trump Updates 'Sea Fence' Blockade of Strait of Hormuz, New Warning to Iran
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered his top advisers to extend the naval blockade on Iranian ports. This extreme measure is taken as a strategy to apply maximum economic pressure to force Tehran back to the negotiating table without resuming military strikes.
Citing reports from CNN International and CNBC International, Trump intends to continue the long-term closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil trade route. This strategy persists even though the war has entered its ninth week—exceeding Trump’s initial prediction that the conflict would last only six weeks—and has triggered a surge in fuel prices and war costs that have now exceeded US$25 billion (Rp431.32 trillion).
“This blockade is far more effective than bombing. They’re choked like a roasting pig. And the situation will get worse for them. They must not have nuclear weapons,” Trump stated in a telephone interview with Axios on Wednesday (29/04/2026).
Tensions have escalated further as Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image on social media platform Truth Social showing himself holding a weapon against a backdrop of explosions. The post was accompanied by a stark warning: “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” as a message that the US will no longer compromise with Tehran.
“Iran can’t sort out their problems. They don’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal. They’d better get smart soon!” Trump wrote in the post.
Trump’s decision to tighten the economic stranglehold has immediately triggered severe shocks in the global energy market. Brent crude oil prices surged more than 6% to close at US$118.03 (Rp2.03 million) per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped nearly 7% to US$106.88 (Rp1.84 million) per barrel.
“This blockade is genius. Now, they just need to admit defeat, that’s all they have to do. Just say, ‘We surrender’,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
On the other hand, US intelligence officials estimate that Iran’s economy can only hold out for weeks or even days before total collapse due to the blockade’s burden and difficulties storing unsold oil. Trump even warned of the risk of permanent damage to Iran’s energy infrastructure from the buildup of unexportable oil stocks.
“What happens is, those pipelines explode from the inside, either mechanically or underground. Something happens where it just blows up. They say they only have about three days left before that happens. And when it explodes, you’ll never be able to rebuild it like it was,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
To date, the US Navy has reportedly intercepted or diverted nearly 40 ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports. Nevertheless, diplomatic negotiations remain deadlocked because Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal, which requested the opening of the Strait of Hormuz but delayed discussions on their nuclear programme.
“Iran just told us they’re in a ‘Failed State’. They want us to ‘Open the Strait of Hormuz’ as soon as possible, while they try to figure out their leadership situation,” Trump wrote on his social media account.
Concerns over a prolonged war are further reinforced by Trump’s statement in the Oval Office, which suggested that the conflict with Iran could take a long time. Speaking to reporters, he said the war might end on a timeline similar to the Ukraine war, which has lasted more than four years without signs of abating.