By Bo Erickson, Saad Sayeed and Asif Shahzad
MIAMI/ISLAMABAD, April 12 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. Navy would begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This decision comes after lengthy discussions with Iran ended without an agreement, putting a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk.
The U.S. Central Command stated that the blockade of all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports would start at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.
The blockade will be "enforced impartially against vessels from all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," according to a CENTCOM statement on X.
U.S. forces will not interfere with the free movement of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian ports. Additional guidance for commercial mariners will be provided before the start of the blockade.
In a social media post, Trump stated that the U.S. would take action against any vessel in international waters that has paid tolls to Iran and would also destroy mines that he accused Iran of dropping in the Strait. This area is crucial, as it is a key transit point for about 20% of global energy supplies that Iran has attempted to restrict.
Trump emphasized, "No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas," and warned, "Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!"
Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded by warning that any military vessels approaching the Strait would be viewed as a breach of the ceasefire and would be dealt with severely, highlighting the potential for further escalation.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran's Parliamentary Speaker who led the country's delegation during talks with the U.S., claimed that Trump's new threats would not impact Iran's stance. He said, "If you fight, we will fight, and if you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic," according to state media.
The weekend discussions in Islamabad were the first direct meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in over a decade and the highest-level talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran had approached the negotiations in good faith but encountered "maximalism, shifting goalposts, and a blockade" just when they were close to an "Islamabad MoU."
"Zero lessons learned," he added. "Good will leads to goodwill. Hostility results in hostility."
After the talks, U.S. Vice President JD Vance remarked, "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I believe this is worse news for Iran than it is for the United States."
Six weeks of conflict have resulted in thousands of deaths, disrupted the global economy, and caused oil prices to soar, as Iran halted traffic through the Strait. As of Monday morning, oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel.
Trump noted that oil and gasoline prices could remain elevated until the midterm elections in November, acknowledging the potential political consequences of the ongoing conflict.
Shortly after Trump's remarks, Qalibaf shared a map of gasoline prices in the Washington area, commenting, "Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade,’ soon you’ll long for $4–$5 gas."
In response to the lack of a deal, the dollar rose against other major currencies on Sunday as investors sought the safety of the currency, leading to a seventh week of market uncertainty.
Will there be more negotiations?
In an interview with Fox News following his post about the Strait, Trump expressed belief that Iran would continue to negotiate, characterizing the discussions as "very friendly." He said, "I do believe they’re going to come to the table on this, because no one can be so foolish as to demand nuclear weapons without any leverage."
Trump also claimed that NATO allies, whom he has criticized for their lack of support for the military operations he initiated along with Israel on February 28, were eager to assist in the operations in the Strait.
Washington's allies did not immediately respond to these statements.
A U.S. official revealed that Iran rejected calls for an end to uranium enrichment, dismantling significant enrichment facilities, and transferring highly enriched uranium. The two parties also couldn't agree on U.S. demands for Iran to stop funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, nor on fully opening the Strait.
Qalibaf accused the U.S. of failing to establish trust with Tehran, even after his team proposed "forward-looking initiatives."
"If the United States adheres to international law, reaching an agreement is within reach," he told Putin, as reported by Iranian state media.
According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, "excessive" U.S. demands impeded progress toward an agreement. Other Iranian outlets noted that while there was consensus on several issues, discussions about the Strait and Iran's nuclear program remained contentious.
Despite the deadlock, three supertankers filled with oil managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, marking the first vessels to leave the Gulf since the ceasefire was declared.