The United States under the Trump Administration has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in order to prevent any ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports, causing a “dual blockade” of the strait between the U.S. and Iran. The blockade began in April of this year due to our ongoing war with Iran, and prior conflicts involving the Strait. Trump said on April 11 that U.S. forces began to clear the strait, and several U.S. Navy destroyers entered the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the start of the war, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The following day, Vice President JD Vance made an announcement that negotiations between the United States and Iran failed, and Trump declared that the United States is enforcing a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While the blockade is in place, Central Command of the United States CENTCOM with the leadership of Admiral Brad Cooper has clarified that this blockade will target vessels leaving or entering Iranian ports, allowing other ships from non-Iranian ports to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. blockade is still ongoing, but Iran is seeking to negotiate with the U.S. to reopen the strait if the U.S. lifts its own naval blockade; otherwise, the Iranian blockade will continue to be upheld.
