#blockade
5 entries with this tag
Iran Halts All Negotiations With the U.S. and Vows to "Completely Block" the Strait of Hormuz
Iran suspended all mediated exchanges with the U.S. and announced it will pursue a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — plus activate the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint — after accusing the U.S. of ceasefire violations through Israel's continued operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Oil surged 7.7% on the news. Trump's response: "I don't care" if negotiations are over, and the talks had "started to get very boring." The deal that was on the table — unrestricted Hormuz shipping, mine removal, blockade lifting, sanctions waivers — now appears dead. Three months into a war that had no defensible cause, the strait remains closed, oil is up 30%, and the president says he's bored.
Hegseth Fires Navy Secretary Phelan — During a Naval Blockade of Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan "effective immediately" — while the U.S. Navy is enforcing an active blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The reason: Phelan communicated directly with Trump, which Hegseth saw as bypassing him. Three weeks earlier, Hegseth also fired the Army Chief of Staff during the same war.
Iran Fires on 3 Ships, Seizes 2 in Hormuz — Won't Talk While U.S. Blockade Continues
Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, causing heavy damage to the MSC Francesca's bridge. Trump extended the ceasefire — but Iran says no more talks until the U.S. lifts its own blockade. The deadlock deepens: both sides are closing the strait, ships are being seized, and the diplomatic channel is dead.
Strait of Hormuz Closed — Again — After Being Opened, Blockaded, Reopened, and Re-Closed
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on April 18 — one day after declaring it open — because the U.S. refuses to lift its own blockade. Iranian gunboats fired on an Indian tanker. A container ship was hit by a rocket. Nobody can keep track of whether the strait is open anymore, because it has been closed, tolled, ceasefire-opened, U.S.-blockaded, reopened, and re-closed in seven weeks.
Trump Now Blockades the Strait He Threatened to End a Civilization to Reopen
After peace talks collapsed, Trump ordered a full U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — "any and all ships" in either direction. Iran had been letting tankers through for a $2M toll. Trump spent weeks threatening to end Iran's civilization over the strait's partial closure. Now the U.S. is closing it itself.