Lindsey Graham says the US blockade of Iran could go global

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in an article on X on Wednesday that he expects the U.S. blockade against Iran “could soon go global.”

The longtime lawmaker noted that he spoke Wednesday morning with President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

“Had a very good call this morning with @POTUS and @SecWar Pete Hegseth about the path forward regarding the Iran conflict. I think the President’s decision to leave the blockade in place is very smart. It has a significant effect on Iran’s ability to continue to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism – which they appear to intend to do. I not only expect this blockade to remain in place until Iran shows his commitment to changing his ways, but I expect the blockade to intensify and could become global soon,” Graham said in the message.

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Senator Lindsey Graham speaks during the 62nd Munich Security Conference, February 14, 2026, in Germany. (Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)

“To those who are helping or planning to help the Iranian regime distribute its oil, which provides resources for terrorism, you do so at your own risk. Bravo to President Trump and his team. This is the best chance since 1979 to change the regime’s behavior and I hope it can be done through diplomacy,” the senator added.

Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment on Thursday.

The United States has been engaged in a blockade against Iranian ports for more than a week.

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Motorists drive past the Imam Sadiq mosque with a giant Iranian flag installed on its facade, in Palestine Square in Tehran, April 19, 2026. (Atta Kenaré/AFP via Getty Images)

“The U.S. military has a global reach. U.S. forces operate and enforce the blockade across the Middle East and beyond,” U.S. Central Command wrote in an article published Wednesday on X.

Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire on Tuesday afternoon, but said the blockade would continue.

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President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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“Based on the fact that the Iranian government is seriously fractured, which is not surprising, and at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to maintain our attack on the country of Iran until their leaders and representatives can present a unified proposal. I have therefore ordered our military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, to remain ready and capable, and I will therefore extend the ceasefire until their proposal is accepted and the discussions are concluded, one way or another,” the president said in an article published Tuesday by Truth Social.