Live

Trump says US to ‘blockade all ships entering or leaving Strait of Hormuz’

Trump says US to ‘blockade all ships entering or leaving Strait of Hormuz’
By Heba Habib, Zsombor Peter, Danai Nesta Kupemba, Fiona Kelliher, Urooba Jamal, Nils Adler, Federica Marsi, Caolán Magee, Faisal Ali and Stephen Quillen
Published On 12 Apr 2026

This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage here.

13 Apr 2026 - 00:00
 (00:00 GMT)

Our coverage continues

This live page is closing, but our 24-hour coverage of the conflict continues.

Join us for all the latest developments, analyses and reactions here.

12 Apr 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

This live page will be closing soon, but our coverage will continue on a new page.

Here are some of the day’s top developments:

  • The US military says it will begin blockading Iranian ports on Monday at 14:00 GMT, adding that it will allow ships that are not coming from, or going to, Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The IRGC has warned that “any miscalculated move will trap the enemy in the deadly whirlpools” of the key waterway. In a separate statement, it said military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz “will be dealt with severely”, but that the strait is open for civilian use.
  • Trump has said the US military will “finish up” its war on Iran at the “appropriate moment”, after claiming that Tehran was unwilling to give up on its nuclear ambitions during talks in Pakistan.
  • Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has responded to the US president’s threats, saying they will “have no effect on the Iranian nation” and vowing to “not bow to any threats”.
  • Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, has accused the US of “shifting goalposts” when the two sides were “inches away” from agreement in the talks in Islamabad.
  • Israel has continued to strike Lebanon as it continues to push a ground invasion of the southern part of the country. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has released footage showing him in what he says is southern Lebanon alongside members of the Israeli military.
  • Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has delivered a speech warning the population of the threat of renewed civil strife as the country remains embroiled in the US-Israel war on Iran.
12 Apr 2026 - 23:40
 (23:40 GMT)

WATCH: These are the people Israel killed in Lebanon in a single day

In a matter of minutes, Israel killed more than 350 people across Lebanon on Wednesday, April 8.

Watch below some of their stories:

12 Apr 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)
Developing

Australia’s Albanese urges ‘resumption of peace talks’ to end conflict

We have more comments from Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who has advocated for a return to diplomacy with Iran and warned of the conflict’s worsening effect on the economy.

“I want to see the resumption of peace talks,” Albanese said when asked his opinion about Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

“We want to see an end to this conflict. It’s having a devastating impact on the global economy, and the longer it goes, the bigger the impact will be, and the longer the tail will be as well.”

12 Apr 2026 - 23:23
 (23:23 GMT)
Houthi

Israeli air attack kills 4, wounds 3 in southern Lebanon: Health Ministry

We have an update from Lebanon’s Health Ministry, which says an Israeli air attack on Maaroub, in the country’s south, has killed at least four people.

At least three others were wounded in the attack, it added.

12 Apr 2026 - 23:20
 (23:20 GMT)
Analysis

Any US effort to force open Strait of Hormuz would be ‘tough fight’

Harlan Ullman, senior adviser at The Atlantic Council and former US naval officer, says the US could likely force the Strait of Hormuz open if it commits enough resources, but such an operation would carry enormous military and political risks.

“The key question is how much force is the US prepared to expend, and what are Iranian forces likely to do?” Ullman told Al Jazeera.

He said Iran could deploy large numbers of mines and drones, potentially overwhelming the US’s magazine capacity.

“That becomes a really tough fight,” Ullman said. “And if, for some reason, an American ship is hit – not sunk but hit – it seems to me, because the majority of Americans are opposed to the war, that would be a huge public relations disaster.”

“So, could the navy force an opening? Probably, if we put enough force, but the risk would be huge, and the blowback could be even larger if our ships, heaven forbid, were hit.”

12 Apr 2026 - 23:10
 (23:10 GMT)

Confusion as Trump and CENTCOM contradict each other on blockade

By Heidi Zhou-Castro

Reporting from Washington DC, US

After the peace talks failed to produce a deal, the Trump administration quickly shifted to a new headline about a naval blockade, and there are discrepancies between how Trump announced it and what we are now hearing from US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Trump said the blockade would target any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. But CENTCOM is saying this would only target ships going to or from Iranian ports. CENTCOM is also saying that international vessels not going to or from Iran would have freedom of navigation to transit the strait.

That is different again from what Trump said in his earlier proclamation, in which he said that any international vessel that pays a toll to Iran to get through the strait would be interdicted by the US Navy in international waters. He said: “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” That issue of tolls is not addressed at all in the details released by CENTCOM.

So there are a lot of questions here. Experts are also pointing out that, whatever the case, the US may have to justify this action legally. It is unclear whether it has the legal authority to blockade international commercial vessels in international waters.

And then there is China and its response. China is Iran’s biggest trade partner, and any blockade of goods coming in and out of Iranian ports would certainly impact China, as well.

All of these are lingering questions.

12 Apr 2026 - 23:05
 (23:05 GMT)
Developing

Australia’s PM Albanese says Trump has not requested help with blockade

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his country has not received a request from Trump to support a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’ve received no requests, and they’ve made this announcement overnight… in a unilateral way. We haven’t been asked to participate,” Albanese said in comments carried by Australian media.

As we’ve reported, US Central Command said the US will begin blockading Iranian ports on Monday, a narrower mission than Trump’s earlier suggestion of a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese [File: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas/via Reuters]
12 Apr 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)
Analysis

‘Iran ready for prolonged war’: Analyst warns US blockade could collapse global industries

Assistant Professor Zohreh Kharazmi of the University of Tehran says Iran is determined to have sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz and that its territorial rights are respected.

“The United States is not in a position to dictate to the people of this nation how to behave, or to choose which vessels may pass,” she told Al Jazeera.

Iran has already shown that friends and foes are not treated equally, she added, citing the passage through the key waterway of Pakistani, Iraqi and some Chinese and French vessels.

“Those who are coming to terms and agreements with Iran are receiving far greater benefits,” Kharazmi said.

On the consequences of a US blockade, Kharazmi said: “When you talk about the Strait of Hormuz, you are talking about fertilisers, helium, and many other materials; a blockade has the potential to collapse entire industries across the world.”

She added that Iran “is ready for a prolonged war”.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:50
 (22:50 GMT)

JCPOA negotiator says no one should expect a quick deal between US-Iran

Federica Mogherini, who helped negotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the agreement between Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US, which saw the lifting of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme – has taken to X to calm expectations for early rounds of diplomacy between the US and Iran.

“It took us 12 years and an immense amount of technical work, anyone seriously thought an agreement could be reached in 21 hours…?” she wrote.

The JCPOA officially expired in October, but the US unilaterally pulled out in 2018, during Trump’s first term.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:40
 (22:40 GMT)

Gulf states look for alternatives as Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed

By Hamza Mohamed

Reporting from Doha, Qatar

The Iranians have denied that any US military vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, and are threatening consequences if any military vessel attempts to do so.

For the GCC countries, that is not what they want to hear – threats from both President Trump and from the Iranian side – because the export of oil through the strait is the backbone of their economies.

Looking at the data of ships that managed to cross or attempted to cross the strait in the last 24 hours: On Saturday, three ships went through, two sailing under the Chinese flag and one under the Liberian flag. Before the war, there used to be at least 100 ships going through the Strait of Hormuz every day. Each of the ships that passed yesterday had a capacity to carry about 2 million barrels of oil. That is nothing compared to normal traffic.

Today, we found data showing that two ships attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz but turned back. We do not know the exact reasons, but they attempted the crossing and could not complete it.

The GCC countries are not standing still waiting for the strait to reopen.

Qatar yesterday issued a statement announcing that it is lifting maritime restrictions. Saudi Arabia today said it has repaired the East-West pipeline to full capacity. The pipeline was damaged in Iranian strikes.

At full capacity, it bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely and carries up to 7 million barrels of oil. Saudi Arabia has also said it has prepared another oilfield, the Manifa field on the southeast coast of the country, which at full capacity would carry an additional 300,000 barrels.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)
Developing

Oil prices jump after US announces Iranian port blockade

Oil prices have risen in early market trading after the US said it would blockade Iranian ports, beginning on Monday.

The price of US crude oil rose 8 percent to $104.24 a barrel.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 7 percent to $102.29. Brent crude has swung dramatically during the war, rising from roughly $70 per barrel before the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28 to more than $119 at times.

On Friday, ahead of the talks in Pakistan, Brent for June delivery fell 0.8 percent to $95.20 per barrel.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:20
 (22:20 GMT)

Netanyahu approves Roman Gofman as new Mossad chief

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has approved the appointment of Major-General Roman Gofman as the next head of the Mossad intelligence agency.

In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said the appointment was signed after approval by a vetting committee. He described Gofman as an “outstanding officer” who has shown “bold and creative” thinking during the war.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also praised Gofman, calling him “sharp” and “highly active”, and saying he had demonstrated “professionalism” in decision-making forums amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Born in Belarus, Gofman has served as Netanyahu’s military secretary and previously led Israel’s COGAT, which has overseen the blockade of aid into the Gaza Strip. He was also a key figure in establishing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was implicated in the killing of thousands of Palestinians seeking aid in the enclave.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:10
 (22:10 GMT)

Hezbollah says fired ‘swarm of drones’ at Israeli soldiers in Lebanon’s Biyyada

The Lebanese group says its forces have fired “a swarm of attack drones” at Israeli soldiers in the southern town of Biyyada.

Hezbollah says its “response” will continue until US-Israeli “aggression against our country and our people ceases”.

As we’ve reported, Israel carried out a series of deadly attacks in southern Lebanon today.

12 Apr 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

WATCH: How shaky is the Iran-US ceasefire?

In this episode, experts with divergent worldviews agreed on one thing: It is unlikely that the United States will resume its war on Iran.

A former US national security adviser, John Bolton, tells host Steve Clemons that he still hopes for “regime collapse” in Iran, but that US President Trump has failed to achieve his goals.

In the second half of the episode, Georgetown University Associate Professor Nader Hashemi argues that the war had an opposite effect – strengthening Iran – and that the people of the region view the conflict “through the prism of the genocide in Gaza, and what Israel is doing in Lebanon right now”.

Watch Al Jazeera’s The Bottom Line below:

12 Apr 2026 - 21:50
 (21:50 GMT)

‘Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas,’ Iran’s Ghalibaf tells US

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament who led the country’s delegation in the Islamabad talks, has again addressed Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

“Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote on X, alongside a map showing prices at gas stations near the White House.

“With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”

12 Apr 2026 - 21:45
 (21:45 GMT)

US naval blockade of Iran is narrower than Trump suggested

By Heidi Zhou-Castro

Reporting from Washington DC, US

US Central Command has just released a statement saying a naval blockade will begin at 10am Eastern Time tomorrow [14:00 GMT],  April 13. That gives us a little over 12 hours from now.

They say the blockade will be enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The statement goes on to say that CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

Several points here are different from the threat we heard from Donald Trump on social media earlier.

You will recall he said that all ships that paid an Iranian toll would be pursued and interdicted in international waters. That is not what CENTCOM is saying. They are saying the US naval blockade will only impact vessels leaving or entering Iranian ports and coastal areas, and that vessels not destined to or from those ports would have freedom of navigation through the strait.

To be clear: This blockade kicks in at 10am Eastern Time on April 13, tomorrow morning here in Washington, DC.

12 Apr 2026 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)

GCC unlikely to back any US initiative that escalates tensions in Strait of Hormuz

By Zein Basravi

Reporting from Dubai, UAE.

What the US president is trying to do is to meet Iran toe to toe on the Strait of Hormuz, and that is something no leader in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] wants.

During the course of the war, there were GCC countries saying they would commit to some sort of naval force or any efforts to try and open the Strait of Hormuz. But now, GCC leaders are unlikely to find anything that could escalate things further a good idea.

Looking at statements on both sides, it looks like escalation is the only way that this is going. Indications are that Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz, at least when it comes to being able to push traffic back, and international shipping finds itself with not just one blockade, but also one from the United States.

12 Apr 2026 - 21:37
 (21:37 GMT)
Houthi

Iran’s Araghchi accuses US of ‘maximalism, shifting goalposts’ at Islamabad talks

We have a statement from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the talks with the US in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

“In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with U.S in good faith to end war,” he wrote in a social media post.

“But when just inches away from ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade,” Araghchi added.

“Zero lessons earned,” he continued, before concluding: “Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.”

12 Apr 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Senior Iranian officials dismiss Trump’s naval blockade threat

Several senior Iranian officials have dismissed US threats to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports in Iran’s media.

“Trump’s threats are laughable,” said Navy Commander Admiral Shahram Irani, adding that Iranian forces were already tracking all US military movements in the region.

Quds Force Commander General Esmail Qaani said that the US and Israel will be expelled from the region “without any achievements” like they had been driven from the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait by Yemen.

Mohsen Rezaei, former IRGC commander and secretary of Tehran’s Expediency Council, said Iran “is not a place that can be blockaded with tweets and imaginary plans”, and that the US was “doomed to fail”.