The United States has announced a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire talks with Iran collapsed in Islamabad. President Donald Trump said the US Navy would swiftly begin the blockade, which will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations.
The move aims to demonstrate the limits of Iran's leverage as negotiations stall, with the war now in its seventh week having already killed thousands and disrupted global markets.
Shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has been immediately affected, with all traffic reportedly stopping after Trump's announcement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy claims control over the strait and warned that any military vessels approaching the waterway will be met with a firm and forceful response.
Tehran has accused the US of derailing talks, with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi saying that Tehran had negotiated in good faith and was close to an agreement. The US has laid down hard red lines, including ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon and ending uranium enrichment.
The UK's role in the region remains unclear, with Trump claiming that Britain would send minesweepers to the area. A follow-up meeting on restoring free movement in the shipping lane is expected later this week.
