Naval blockade of Iran

A naval blockade of Iran was imposed by the United States in April 2026 following the failure of the Islamabad Talks to end the 2026 Iran war. The US military said the blockade had begun on Monday, 13 April 2026 at 10 a.m. ET and will apply only to ships going to and from Iran. Iran said it will view the entry of military vessels near the strait as a breach of the two-week 2026 Iran war ceasefire and will respond accordingly.

On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and government sites, as well as assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials, starting the 2026 Iran war. In response, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the United States military to begin a military campaign to reopen it from 19 March. Following escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to ships owned by China, Russia, India, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand, Iran has been gradually allowing some tankers through in exchange for a toll of up to $2 million per ship.

On 8 April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire. During the ceasefire, the two held negotiations at the Islamabad Talks on 11–12 April, which failed. Following the failure of the talks, U.S. President Donald Trump sought to impose a naval blockade on Iran and interdict any ships entering or departing Iranian ports.

On 13 April 2026, at 10 a.m. ET, the U.S. military naval blockade of Iran took effect. According to CENTCOM, the blockade is set to encompass "the entirety of the Iranian coastline," warning that vessels "entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture." President Trump threatened to strike any fast-attack ships of the IRGC Navy with drug boat-style attacks, similar to those carried out against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea during Operation Southern Spear.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the naval blockade on Iran.

Iran condemned the planned blockade and said it would be illegal and constitute piracy. An Iranian army statement said that if the security of Iran's "ports in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea is threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea will be safe."

China said such a blockade "would go against the international community’s interests". Additionally, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Spain, and the European Union expressed lack of support for the plan.

• Blockade of the Gaza Strip
• 2026 Strait of Hormuz campaign