U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One April 10, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Win McNamee | Getty Images
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States would block the Strait of Hormuz after talks held in Pakistan to end Iran the war got out of hand.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of BLOCKING all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a message on his social media platform. Social truth. “The blockade will begin shortly. Other countries will be involved in this blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit from this illegal act of EXTORTION.”
The announcement of a US blockade of the strait probably dashes any hope that the war will end in the coming days. peace talks in Islamabad. It also threatens to exacerbate the economic crisis that has hit global economies since war broke out and Iran began restricting access to the strait, a chokepoint through which about a fifth of the world’s population transits. oil.
Trump said the U.S. blockade was an effort to prevent Iran from controlling the strait and reaping economic benefits from it while the rest of the world suffers from its closure.
“At some point we will come to a principle that ‘ALL ARE ALLOWED IN, ALL ARE ALLOWED OUT,’ but Iran has not allowed that to happen by simply saying, ‘There may be a mine somewhere,’ that no one knows about except them,” he said. “THIS IS GLOBAL EXTORTION, and the leaders of countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”
Trump, speaking on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” said the effort will be a “complete blockade” and “all or nothing,” meaning no ships will be allowed to pass until Iran relents.
Trump also announced in his message that the US Navy would “search for and interdict any vessel in international waters that has paid tribute to Iran.”
Iran was preparing to toll ships seeking to pass through the strait, a movement which invoked Trump’s anger as Tehran attempts to consolidate its grip on the crossing amid two-week deal ceasefire in the conflict.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will be able to travel safely on the high seas,” the president said.
Peace talks hosted by Pakistan failed due to what the United States described as Iran’s reluctance to abandon its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. Tehran’s demands include control of the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations and a ceasefire in the region, including in Lebanon, according to Iranian state television and officials. She is also seeking the release of her frozen assets abroad.
The American delegation, led by the vice president J.D. Vancemet with Iranian and Pakistani negotiators for more than 21 hours during this rare face-to-face summit.
The war and the almost complete closure of the strait put immense pressure on oil prices and the global economy. Markets have been turbulent throughout the campaign, and oil has at times soared to more than $100 a barrel.
Read more about CNBC’s politics coverageTrump on Fox said the United States must weather the storm to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, arguing that energy prices would fall once the war ends.
“It might not happen at first, but it will decrease,” he said.
The president also said that any country – potentially including China – that helped Iran would face 50% tariffs imposed by the United States.
“If we catch them doing this, they will be hit with a 50 percent tariff, which is a staggering amount,” Trump said.
Trump expected to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping next month.