U.S. Blockade of Iranian Ports Takes Effect as Oil Tops $100 Again

The U.S. military began blockading all Iranian ports at 10 a.m. Eastern on Monday, after weekend talks in Islamabad failed to produce a deal to end the war, CBS News and NBC News reported. The ceasefire announced April 7 is still nominally in place, but oil climbed back above $100 a barrel and stocks fell as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz stayed near a standstill, NBC News said.

U.S. Central Command said the blockade covers vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, including in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, CBS News reported. Ships traveling between non-Iranian ports can still transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to both outlets, despite President Trump’s earlier statement that the Navy would stop ships from passing through. Mr. Trump said the Navy would “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” CBS News reported. At least two tankers turned away from the strait after the blockade began, according to CBS News.

Asked what the blockade is for, Mr. Trump said “Maybe everything,” citing pressure on Iran to negotiate and lower energy costs, CBS News reported. He said Iran is “blackmailing the world.” NBC News reported he said the ceasefire is “holding well” and that “I don’t care” whether Iran returns to the table. Vice President JD Vance, who led the Islamabad talks, said the “ball is in the Iranian court,” CBS News said.

Iran’s armed forces called the blockade illegal and “piracy,” according to both outlets. NBC News said they declared Iran’s ports are “either for everyone or for no one” and that Tehran will set up a “permanent mechanism” to control the strait. The Revolutionary Guard said the strait remains under Iran’s “full control,” with military vessels facing a “forceful response,” CBS News reported.

Allies are split. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the blockade, according to both outlets. Britain will not join it; Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country is “not supporting a blockade,” NBC News reported, though CBS News said Britain is keeping minesweepers and anti-drone systems in the region and reportedly, according to an unnamed NATO official, leading planning for a coalition of more than 40 nations to reopen the strait once fighting ends. NBC News said Japan has made no decision, and CBS News reported that Germany would help only after hostilities stop, with a U.N. mandate and parliamentary approval. CBS News also reported Spain criticized the move, Russia warned of harm to global markets and China said blocking the strait is not in the common interest.

Oil reacted immediately. Brent crude rose about 7 percent to around $102 a barrel and U.S. crude reached about $105, CBS News reported, up from roughly $70 for Brent before the war began Feb. 28.

The clock on the diplomacy is short. CBS News said the two-week ceasefire is set to expire around April 22, Pakistan is pushing for a second round of talks and Israel-Lebanon talks were scheduled for Tuesday in Washington. NBC News reported that Turkey has said the truce could be extended by 45 to 60 days, and that Iran calls Lebanon’s exclusion from the ceasefire a violation, which the U.S. and Israel dispute.