Strait of Hormuz blockade ordered by Trump after Iran peace talks fail
Trump’s Ultimatum to Iran: Reopen Hormuz or Face Infrastructure Strikes
Shervin Pishevar, advisor to HRH Reza Pahlavi, analyzes President Trump’s ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pishevar praises Trump’s “doctrine of preemption,” saying decisive action today prevents future threats from Iran’s nuclear, drone and ICBM programs. He criticizes the former American administrations for having “chambered” the Iranian regime.
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President Donald Trump said the US Navy would begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ban ships that paid tribute to Iran, after US peace talks with Tehran ended in an impasse.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of BLOCKING all ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on Truth Social. “At some point we will come to a principle that ‘ALL ARE ALLOWED IN, ALL ARE ALLOWED OUT,’ but Iran has not allowed that to happen…IT’S GLOBAL EXTORTION. »
He said the United States would deny safe passage to ships that paid the toll and began clearing mines.
“I have also directed our Navy to search for and interdict any vessel in international waters that has paid tribute to Iran,” he wrote. “No one who pays an illegal toll will be able to pass safely… We will also start destroying the mines… Any Iranian who shoots at us… will be EXPLOITED IN HELL!” »
WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES NEW ULTIMATUM TO IRAN
Iran’s closure of the strait triggered a global economic crisis, and its reopening was a key condition of U.S. efforts to reach a deal.
In a second message, Trump reiterated his demand: “They better start…opening up this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY FAST!”
A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supplies. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
Trump’s warning raises the stakes on this narrow but vital waterway, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
The strait between IranOman, and the United Arab Emirates, constitute one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, transporting around 20 million barrels of oil per day as well as around a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas.
The strait is also a vital artery for refined fuels, including products like jet fuel.
The latest threat builds on a series of deadlines imposed by Trump. Tehran on the strait. Here is a timeline of these requests:
March 21
In a Social truth In his message, Trump said that if Iran did not completely open the strait within 48 hours, the United States would “wipe out their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST FIRST!” »
Ali Mousavi, Iran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization, responded by saying the Strait of Hormuz was “open to all” except Tehran’s enemies. Meanwhile, other Iranian officials have warned that attacks on energy infrastructure would amount to an attack on the Iranian people and would lead to retaliation.
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March 23
Two days later, Trump wrote in a Social truth post that the United States had had “productive” conversations with Iran and that he had ordered the Pentagon to delay any strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
Iranian officials have publicly denied negotiations are taking place.
March 26
Trump extended his deadline again – this time by 10 days, to April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time – saying in a statement social media post that he was “suspending the period of destruction of energy plants” at the request of the Iranian government.
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March 30
President Donald Trump has called on the world’s nations to show “delayed courage” and “just take” the Strait of Hormuz. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters; Benoit Tessier/Reuters)
Trump wrote in a Truth on social media that “great progress” had been made in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. At the same time, he warned that if a deal was not reached and the Strait of Hormuz was not “immediately” opened, the United States would destroy Iran’s power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island – the country’s main oil export hub – and “perhaps all” desalination plants.
April 1
Asset said Iran has called for a ceasefire, a claim that Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson called “false and baseless,” according to the official IRIB news agency.
In a social media post, Trump said the United States would only consider a ceasefire once the strait was “open, free and clear,” adding: “Until then, we are propelling Iran into oblivion or, as they say, returning it to the Stone Age!!! »
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April 4
Trump warned in a Truth on social media that “time is running out – 48 hours before hell reigns over them.”
That message followed several conflicting statements from previous days, in which he alternately criticized allies for failing to take steps to reopen the strait and suggested it would reopen on its own.
April 5
Cargo ships in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, seen from north of Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam government, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in the United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters/Stringer/File photo/File photo)
In a crude article published Sunday on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all rolled into one, in Iran.
“There will be no such thing!!! Open the straits of —–‘, you fool——-, or you will live in hell – JUST LOOK! Praise be to Allah.”
“Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!” he wrote in a second post.
April 7
President Donald Trump speaks about the war in Iran from Cross Hall of the White House, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Two days later, Trump issued a new ultimatum to Iran, demanding that it allow all ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on critical infrastructure. The warning comes after weeks of escalating threats and missed deadlines.
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“An entire civilization is going to die tonight, never to be brought back. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social article. “We will find out tonight – one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world,” he added, referring to the 8 p.m. (local time) deadline for Iran to agree to a ceasefire and reopen the strait.
A ceasefire was declared hours before the 8 p.m. deadline.
