US blocks ‘all maritime traffic’ to Iranian ports but allows passage through Strait of Hormuz after Islamabad talks fail

The US military announced that it will block all ports in the Gulf of Iran starting at 1400 GMT on Monday (April 13), while allowing ships not bound for Iran to continue passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.“The blockade will be imposed impartially on all national vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on the X website on Sunday.“CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels traveling to and from non-Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz,” it added, appearing to soften President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks that “any and all vessels” would be blocked.After nearly 20 hours of talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough, Trump ordered a comprehensive naval blockade. The U.S. president accuses Iran of refusing to give up its nuclear ambitions, although he calls talks largely productive.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the talks were “going well” and “most points have been agreed upon,” but insisted Tehran “remains unyielding on one of the most important issues” and declared: “Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions!”Trump said he was “fully briefed” by Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkopf and his son-in-law Jared Kushner following talks brokered by Pakistan.He also accused Iran of reneging on its commitment to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, warning that the situation had caused anxiety, chaos and pain to many people and countries around the world.“They said they had mines in the water,” Trump wrote, adding that the uncertainty had hampered global shipping. “What shipowner wants to take a chance?”Trump called the situation “blackmail on the world” and said the United States would respond with immediate and strong measures.“The U.S. Navy … will immediately begin blocking any vessel attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.He added that the U.S. military would “search for and intercept all vessels in international waters that pay tolls to Iran” and warned that “anyone who pays illegal tolls will not be able to travel safely on the high seas.”Trump also said U.S. naval forces would begin clearing mines allegedly laid by Iran and issued a stern warning: “Any Iranian who fires on us or a peaceful ship will be blown to hell!”He said the blockade would last until free navigation was restored, calling the current situation a violation of international norms.Trump, meanwhile, signaled a possible exit, saying “at some point we’re going to get to the basis of ‘all in, all out'” while blaming Iran for preventing such an outcome.