US blocks Strait of Hormuz forcing Iran to stop collecting toll from ships

Web Desk – April 13, 2026 – The United States has officially initiated a naval blockade of all Iranian ports, effective from 7:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (10:00 AM Eastern Time / 2:00 PM GMT) on April 13, according to an announcement by US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The blockade will be enforced “impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Trump: ‘This Is World Extortion’

President Donald Trump announced the decision following the inconclusive US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad over the weekend. In a fiery statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Tehran of “short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways”.

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump declared.

The President further ordered the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” adding that “no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas”.

US Objectives and Scope

According to CENTCOM, the blockade is designed to prevent Iran from generating revenue through oil exports . The command clarified that US forces “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports”.

The US military has indicated that allied nations may deploy minesweepers to the region to clear sea mines and secure shipping lanes.

Major Allies Refuse to Join

Despite Trump’s earlier claims that other countries would participate, several key allies have publicly declined to support the blockade:

United Kingdom: British officials confirmed the UK will not send warships to support the mission, though they may deploy minesweeper. The UK and France instead plan to organize a “peaceful multinational mission” to restore traffic through the strait, separate from the warring parties.
France: French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad stated that France will not support military operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz before the end of the conflict.
Russia & China: Both nations have opposed the blockade. China has called for “unimpeded” navigation through the strategic waterway, while Russia has offered to take in Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential peace deal.

Iran’s Response

Iranian military officials have strongly rejected the US move, describing it as “illegal” and “piracy”.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that it would treat the approach of any military vessels to the strait as a violation of the ceasefire, and that any “wrong move” would trap its enemies in “deadly whirlpools”.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, stated that Iran “will not bow to any threats”.

Strait of Hormuz: Economic and Strategic Importance

Global Economic Impact

The escalation has already rattled global energy markets. The US oil benchmark (WTI) rebounded above $100 per barrel, rising approximately seven percent in Monday trading.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global oil supplies, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil passes daily.

This is a developing story. Updates on the implementation of the blockade and the formation of alternative maritime missions are expected in the coming days.