By Ginika Igboke
A scheduled U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters began at 10 a.m. ET on April 13, as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran held following failed talks in Pakistan, according to a maritime trade group.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had been informed that, effective from 2 p.m. UTC (10 a.m. ET), maritime access restrictions were being enforced. These measures affect Iranian ports and coastal areas, including locations along the Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.
“Access restrictions apply without distinction to vessels of any flag engaging with Iranian ports, oil terminals, or coastal facilities,” the UKMTO advisory stated. It added that transit through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations is not currently impeded, though vessels may encounter military presence, directed communications, or inspection procedures during passage.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, confirmed it would implement the blockade at the scheduled time, a decision also affirmed by President Donald Trump.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces would enforce the blockade on ship traffic traveling to and from Iranian ports. The action would be applied impartially to vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. However, the command emphasized that freedom of navigation for vessels transiting to and from non-Iranian ports would not be restricted.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, Trump reiterated that the blockade would begin at 10 a.m. the following day and noted that other nations would be involved to ensure Iran could not sell oil. After the blockade took effect, he said in a post on Truth Social that 34 ships had already passed through the waterway—the highest number since the conflict began.
Iranian officials issued warnings in response, suggesting that their military could target ports belonging to Gulf Arab states as well as those in the Sea of Oman. A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that “the security of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for all or for none.”
The spokesperson also said Iran would implement a permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz, citing ongoing threats to national security even after the war’s end.
Trump responded with a warning that Iranian small boats approaching the blockade would be “immediately eliminated,” referencing tactics used in recent U.S. operations against suspected drug traffickers at sea.
Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, Iran has effectively restricted access to the strait, allowing passage only under its control and subject to fees. The country has also been accused of attacking civilian vessels in the region, including ships belonging to Gulf Arab states.
Before a two-week ceasefire was announced last week, Trump had warned of possible U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, to force the reopening of the waterway. Concerns over the strait’s security have driven global oil and gas prices higher, with Brent and WTI crude nearing $100 per barrel on Monday.
Over the weekend, a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance held several hours of talks in Pakistan with senior Iranian officials—the highest-level engagement between the two countries since Iran’s 1979 revolution. The discussions ended without a lasting agreement, with Iran reportedly demanding recognition of its control over the waterway, sanctions relief, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from regional bases.
NATO Declines Participation in Blockade
NATO allies, including Britain and France, said they would not join the blockade and instead emphasized the need to reopen the waterway through diplomatic means. About one-fifth of the world’s oil typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would not support the blockade, stressing that his government would not be drawn into the conflict despite mounting pressure.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to convene a conference with the United Kingdom and other nations to establish a multinational mission focused on ensuring safe navigation in the strait.
“This strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties, is intended to be deployed as soon as circumstances permit,” Macron said, adding that the initiative would focus on coordinating naval escorts and establishing rules for safe passage.
Starmer reiterated that the proposed effort would be independent and aimed at safeguarding shipping and maintaining freedom of navigation once the conflict subsides.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, also called for a diplomatic resolution, warning that forming an international force to oversee the strait would be complex. He urged NATO to reset its relationship with Trump ahead of a planned summit in Ankara in July.
Although Trump initially suggested a multinational effort to block ships in the strait, U.S. officials later clarified that the blockade would apply only to vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports. Ahead of the operation, Trump also criticized NATO and indicated that the United States may reassess its relationship with the alliance.
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