US Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports Formally Takes Effect

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports — announced by Trump hours after the Islamabad talks collapsed on April 12 — formally took effect on April 13, 2026. Over 10,000 US troops, more than a dozen Navy warships, and fighter jets were deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Trump warned that any Iranian vessel approaching the blockade perimeter would be 'eliminated.' The White House simultaneously kept a diplomatic off-ramp open, stating talks could resume at any time. Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Oman began frantically working to revive negotiations before the ceasefire expired on April 21. French President Macron announced he was organizing a UK-France conference to plan a multilateral mission to protect Strait shipping.