▲ U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 13, 2026, in this photo released by EPA. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ This file photo, released by AFP, shows cargo ships and tankers sailing off the coastal city of Fujairah in the Strait of Hormuz on February 25, 2026. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) US-maritime blockade

(2nd LD) U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports begins; Trump threatens to destroy Iranian boats if they challenge it

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By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Yonhap) -- The United States began a naval blockade of Iranian ports on Monday, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic after Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement during their peace talks in Pakistan over the weekend.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed during a press availability that the blockade was in progress, noting that Iran hopes to make a deal with the U.S. "very badly", a remark that raised hopes for diplomatic efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

In an advisory, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British entity, said that effective from 10 a.m. (Washington time), "maritime access restrictions" were being enforced for Iranian ports and coastal areas, including locations along the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade in the strategically crucial strait appears aimed at putting pressure on Iran, as it could restrict Tehran's ability to export oil, its key source of revenue. Iran has used the waterway as a vital source of strategic leverage to seek U.S. concessions during the war.

"Right now, we have a blockade. They're doing no business. I didn't like seeing boats come out if they were doing business with Iran," Trump told reporters at the White House. "Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we're going to keep it that way very easily."

Other countries will assist in the blockade, Trump said.

"We don't need other countries, frankly, but they've offered (their) services," he said. "We'll let it be known probably tomorrow."

He claimed that Iran wants to reach a peace deal with the U.S., while reiterating the U.S. position to ensure that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon.

"I can tell you that we've been called by the other side," he said. "They'd like to make a deal very badly."

He went on to highlight that during the negotiations in Pakistan, the two sides agreed to "a lot of things," but Iranian negotiators did not agree on the nuclear issue.

"I think they will agree to (the nuclear issue) ... In fact, I am sure of it. If they don't agree, there's no deal. There'll never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said.

"And we're going to get the dust back. We'll get it back. Either we'll get it back from them, or we'll take it," he added, referring to Iran's enriched uranium stockpile that can be used to make nuclear bombs.

In a social media post in the morning, Trump warned that if Iranian "fast attack ships" come "anywhere close" to the blockade, the U.S. military will "immediately" eliminate them, using the same system mobilized to strike boats carrying drug dealers at sea.

In a note to seafarers, U.S. Central Command said that any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to "interception, diversion, and capture," according to Reuters.

"The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations," it said.

In its advisory, UKMTO said that the blockade encompasses the "entirety" of the Iranian coastline, including ports and energy infrastructure, and that neutral vessels currently within Iranian ports have been granted a limited grace period to depart.

The blockade raised concerns over its impact on the implementation of last week's temporary ceasefire agreement that appeared to be on shaky ground amid Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon and Iran's move to restrict traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. turned to the naval blockade as it failed to secure Iran's clear commitment not to seek a nuclear weapon during the negotiations in Islamabad. During the talks, the two sides discussed an array of complex issues, including Iran's push to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and secure the release of its frozen assets.

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