NPR News: 04-12-2026 4PM EDT

The U.S. Navy will blockade the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump announced on social media today, escalating tensions with Iran after face-to-face nuclear talks in Islamabad collapsed over the weekend. The announcement came hours after Vice President J.D. Vance left negotiations, declaring the U.S. had made its "best final offer."

Strait of Hormuz Blockade and Nuclear Talks Collapse

President Trump posted that the Navy will "blockade any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz." He added that any vessel that paid a fee to Iran to transit the waterway "will not have safe passage." The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and a blockade would represent a dramatic escalation in the confrontation with Iran.

The blockade announcement follows the collapse of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. Leaders from both countries met face-to-face for more than 20 hours on Saturday. Vice President Vance left the talks, stating the U.S. had presented its best and final offer. Pakistani leaders acted as mediators, but the two sides remained too far apart on the central issue of Iran's nuclear program.