2026 Iran War: 2026-04-12

US Central Command stated that forces will block all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports starting April 13 at 10:00 AM Eastern. The blockade applies to vessels from all countries bound for Iranian ports, while non-Iranian traffic through the Strait will not be affected.

President Trump declared the US Navy will interdict all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an "all or none" blockade until Iran relents. Trump also stated the US is ready to "finish up" Iran at an "appropriate moment."

Negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad ended without agreement after key sticking points — including uranium enrichment freeze, dismantling nuclear facilities, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz — could not be resolved. The Iranian delegation has landed safely back in Tehran.

President Trump has announced a naval blockade on Iran after nuclear talks in Islamabad failed to produce an agreement. The announcement comes as both sides remain far apart on key issues including uranium enrichment, the Strait of Hormuz, and proxy funding.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an incident in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, approximately 54 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen. Details remain limited, and the nature of the incident has not yet been confirmed. The Bab Al-Mandab Strait is a critical shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Iran's nuclear program has survived the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign, with Tehran likely retaining substantial uranium enrichment capability at deeply buried underground sites. The assessment suggests that despite weeks of airstrikes, Iran's nuclear infrastructure remains largely intact.

President Donald Trump announced an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz via Truth Social after nearly 20 hours of negotiations with Iran failed to reach agreement on Tehran's nuclear program. The U.S. Navy will intercept all ships entering or leaving the strait, destroy Iranian-laid mines, and target any vessel that paid transit fees to Iran. Trump warned that any Iranian attack on American or civilian ships would be met with a forceful response.

IRIB reported that Iran will not participate in a second day of negotiations, accusing the US of attempting to achieve diplomatically what it could not through war. Iranian state media said the American demands included handing over enriched uranium and opening the Strait of Hormuz without confirmed Iranian sovereignty over the waterway.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that the American delegation will return to the US without an agreement, saying Iran has chosen not to accept American terms. Vance characterized the outcome as bad news, particularly for Iran. The statement followed the conclusion of the third round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

Pope Leo XIV criticized the "delusion of impotence" fueling the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran, marking his most direct condemnation of the conflict since it began. The statement comes as diplomatic efforts in Islamabad failed to produce a ceasefire agreement between the warring parties.

US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad ended without agreement after Iran rejected American demands including handing over enriched uranium and opening the Strait of Hormuz without confirmed Iranian sovereignty. Vice President JD Vance stated the US would return home without a deal, while Iranian state media accused Washington of attempting to achieve through diplomacy what it could not through war. Tasnim reported that technical talks made initial progress but the Strait of Hormuz remained a fundamental point of disagreement.

Trilateral talks between the US, Iran, and Pakistan in Islamabad have hit a deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz. According to initial reports, the US refuses to allow Iran to collect tolls or control the strategic waterway, while Iran insists on its sovereign rights. Pakistani diplomatic sources say a proposal for joint patrols in the Strait has been tabled. Iranian journalist Sara Massoumi noted the US refused to negotiate on the initially agreed 10-point framework.