WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in full force, hours after Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran reimposed restrictions on the waterway.
Trump made the remarks as tensions escalated in the region following the collapse of recent peace talks. The U.S. Central Command imposed the blockade on April 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET, targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports along the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, according to CENTCOM statements.
"The blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran only until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete," Trump said in a statement. He added that the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open and ready for business," but emphasized that the measure against Iranian shipping would continue until a deal is reached, including on Tehran's nuclear program.
The blockade followed the failure of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad earlier in April. It aims to halt maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports while allowing passage for vessels not linked to Iran, U.S. officials have said. Iran has described the action as a breach and responded by announcing restrictions on the strait, which handles a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Earlier on Saturday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that two gunboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps approached and fired on a tanker about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman without issuing a radio warning. The tanker's captain reported the incident, and UKMTO said the vessel and crew were safe, though details on damage or the tanker's identity remained unclear.
Iran's military earlier declared it was reimposing "strict management" on shipping through the strait, citing repeated breaches related to the U.S. blockade. Iranian officials had previously indicated the waterway would stay open during a truce period but reversed that stance.
The U.S. military has described the blockade as fully implemented, with forces involved in monitoring and intercepting unauthorized vessels. No immediate comment was available from Iranian authorities on Trump's latest statement or the tanker incident.
As of Saturday evening, the blockade remained active with no indication of lifting, according to U.S. statements. Shipping activity in the strait continued under heightened caution, with maritime agencies urging vessels to report suspicious behavior. Details on any further incidents or negotiations remained limited.
