The United States will launch a blockade on Monday morning, banning ships from entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, in an attempt to increase pressure on Iran to reopen the key oil shipping channel after the collapse of peace talks. President Trump announced the plan on "Truth Social" on Sunday, slamming Iran for refusing to give up its nuclear ambitions and accusing Tehran of continuing to block shipping in the strait.global ransomware".
A smartphone screen displays the MarineTraffic app against a satellite view of a large number of ship beacons near the Strait of Hormuz in Créteil, France, April 8, 2026. At that time, the United States and Iran had just reached a diplomatic agreement to reopen this strategic waterway to international shipping.
Trump said the U.S. lockdown would begin at 10 a.m. ET and would apply to “All ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz".
The U.S. Central Command later added that the U.S. military “Will not impede freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for vessels traveling to and from non-Iranian ports".
On the eve of the lockdown, stock index futures fell and crude oil prices surged.