Day 45 | Trump says US will blockade Hormuz after Iran talks collapse
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a large-scale attack on Iran, unleashing nearly 900 airstrikes within 12 hours on the Islamic Republic’s missile systems, air defenses, nuclear facilities, military bases, and leadership targets.
On April 8, the United States, Iran, and ‘Israel’ agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, with Iran committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and all sides pausing military operations while negotiations continue toward a broader agreement.
The assault followed years of shadow conflict, including direct missile exchanges in 2024 and a limited 12-day war in 2025 that damaged Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials were killed in the opening strikes.
Iran responded within hours, launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones at ‘Israel’, US bases, and targets across the Gulf.
The fragile truce is currently hanging in the balance, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as ‘Israel’ launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.
Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to the ceasefire and negotiations.
The deal's fractures emerged quickly as ‘Israel’ carried out its heaviest strikes on its neighbour -- including in densely packed central Beirut -- since the Iran-backed group Hezbollah joined the war in early March.
‘Israel’ said its battle against Hezbollah was not part of the US-Iran truce agreed late Tuesday, an argument echoed by US Vice President JD Vance, as he is leading the talks with Tehran in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appeared to threaten the ceasefire, posting on X that the "workable basis on which to negotiate" had already been violated, making further talks "unreasonable".
Adding to the fragility of the truce, agreed hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump, a senior US official said Iran's 10-point plan was not the same set of conditions the White House had agreed to in order to pause the war.
Trump weighs limited strikes on Iran after talks collapse: report
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials, that US President Donald Trump is considering limited strikes on Iran, with a broader bombing campaign also under review, while remaining open to a diplomatic solution and viewing a potential US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in talks.
Sirens sound in Kiryat Shmona and northern 'Israel'
Air raid sirens were activated in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding areas in northern 'Israel', authorities said.
Araghchi accuses U.S. of blocking deal “inches from agreement”
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a post on X that Iran engaged the U.S. in “good faith” during high-level talks aimed at ending war, but faced “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” as the deal neared what he called the “Islamabad MoU,” adding: “Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.”
US to enforce naval blockade on Iranian ports starting 10 a.m. ET
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces will begin enforcing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, following a presidential proclamation.
The blockade will apply to vessels of all nations traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM said freedom of navigation will not be restricted for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Additional guidance will be issued to commercial mariners through a formal notice before the blockade begins. Mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating near the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
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Read more: Day 44 | US-Iran talks in Islamabad end with no agreement
