The United States military announced that it will begin blocking all Iranian ports starting Monday. According to the US Central Command, the blockade will start at 10 a.m. local time in Iran, equivalent to 2 p.m. GMT and 8 p.m. Bangladesh time. The military clarified that ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to other countries will not be obstructed. US President Donald Trump said he ordered the move in response to what he called Iran’s deliberate failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran will not bow to threats. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any military vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the current ceasefire. The situation follows the collapse of peace talks in Pakistan, which Trump said failed because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Following the announcement, global oil prices surged above 100 dollars per barrel, reflecting market fears of supply disruptions linked to the new blockade.

Iran’s armed forces have condemned the United States’ announced blockade of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, describing it as illegal and an act of piracy. The statement, reported Monday by Iran’s state media IRIB, asserted that these ports must remain open to all or closed to all, emphasizing Iran’s right to defend its legal and territorial sovereignty.

The Iranian military declared that hostile vessels would not be allowed to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while other ships could transit if they complied with Tehran’s regulations. The statement also said that a permanent system would be established to maintain control over this vital waterway amid ongoing threats against the nation.

Iran further warned that if the security of any of its ports was compromised, no other port in the region would remain safe. The statement concluded that US-imposed restrictions on international maritime movement were unlawful and amounted to piracy.

Zohreh Kharazmi, an associate professor of World Studies at the University of Tehran, stated that US President Trump's threats regarding control of the Hormuz Strait will not alter Iran's negotiating stance. She argued that discussions about blocking the strait reflect a broader debate on resilience, noting that Iran recently sold 150 million barrels of oil and expanded ties with various countries to meet basic needs.

Kharazmi asserted that the United States is overestimating its ability to pressure Iran into changing its position. She emphasized that Iran is fully prepared for counterattacks and that control over the Hormuz Strait forms the core of the region's emerging security structure. She also suggested that a shift from the petrodollar to the petroyuan could bring significant global changes.

According to Kharazmi, Washington lacks the capacity to alter Tehran’s firm determination, underscoring Iran’s confidence in maintaining its strategic stance despite external pressure.

Iran’s navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz as “extremely ridiculous.” In a statement published by Iranian media on April 13, 2026, Irani said that Iran’s naval forces are closely monitoring every movement of U.S. fleets in the region.

According to the report, Iran restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive began on February 28. Tehran has allowed ships from allied nations to pass but banned vessels linked to what it calls aggressive states and their supporters. Iran’s parliament is also advancing a draft law to impose transit fees in the national currency and to prohibit U.S. and Israeli ships entirely.

The Iranian health ministry reported that since February 28, joint force attacks have killed 2,076 people and injured more than 26,000. A U.S. cruise missile strike on a primary school in Minab on the same day killed 168 students, according to the ministry.

At least five people were killed and nine others injured in new Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA). The report said one person died in multiple air raids on the town of Bajourieh, where several houses and a school building were severely damaged. Four more deaths were reported in Nabatieh El Fawka and Sir El Gharbiyeh, while additional casualties occurred in the town of Choukin.

NNA stated that the attacks caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure across southern Lebanon. The agency added that further details about the situation would be provided as more information becomes available.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source, but did not include official statements or reactions from either side regarding the strikes or their aftermath.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Sunday that he is working to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. His statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in southern Lebanon, according to AFP.

In his address, delivered on the eve of the anniversary of Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war, Salam emphasized that his government is committed to halting the war, securing the release of all prisoners, rebuilding destroyed villages and towns, and ensuring the safe return of displaced people. He added that Lebanon continues to pursue diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

The remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting in Washington on Tuesday involving officials from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, where discussions are expected to focus on the ongoing conflict and possible de-escalation measures.

High-level peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad ended without any agreement, with Tehran blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for derailing the process. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a phone call from Netanyahu to US Vice President JD Vance during the 21-hour meeting disrupted progress toward a potential deal.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that Netanyahu’s call shifted the focus of the talks from US-Iran issues to Israel’s interests. He further alleged that Washington sought to achieve at the negotiating table what it had failed to gain through conflict. The discussions were held under Pakistan’s mediation, and Araghchi described Vance’s subsequent press conference as unnecessary.

Iran reiterated its commitment to protecting its national interests and sovereignty. The White House has neither confirmed nor denied the reported phone call between Netanyahu and Vance.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, raising new concerns for Taiwan. The announcement has highlighted the island’s vulnerability, as it relies heavily on imported energy to sustain its population of 23 million and its semiconductor industry, which produces about 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips. Most of Taiwan’s energy shipments arrive by sea from the Middle East, entering through a few western ports.

China has long prepared strategies to pressure Taiwan, including military exercises simulating port and sea route blockades. The People’s Liberation Army now possesses the world’s largest navy, capable of extended operations. Beijing continues to frame the Taiwan issue as an internal matter while criticizing U.S. actions in Iran and Venezuela, which analysts say could serve as justification for similar Chinese measures.

Facing potential energy shortages, Taiwan may impose restrictions on air conditioning, elevators, street lighting, and business hours. The government is reconsidering nuclear power and reviewing plans to restart inactive reactors, though such steps could take years due to safety and regulatory requirements.

Talks between the United States and Iran collapsed after more than 20 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, sparking renewed fears of conflict across the Middle East. US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the differences between the two sides were too deep to resolve for now. Soon after, President Donald Trump ordered an immediate naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any ship paying tariffs to Tehran would be seized and threatening to cut Iran off from future oil revenues.

The breakdown of talks has heightened uncertainty in an already volatile region. Citizens from Doha, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia expressed anxiety about the prospect of renewed warfare. In Israel, a recent survey showed only 10 percent viewed the conflict with Iran as a success, while 32 percent saw it as a failure. In Iran, brief hopes for peace quickly faded, with many fearing an inevitable return to war.

In Lebanon, disputes over whether the country was included in the ceasefire agreement have led to intensified Israeli attacks. Observers warned that the collapse of negotiations could have global repercussions if peace efforts fail to regain momentum.

At least 350 people were killed across Lebanon on Wednesday, April 8, following a series of Israeli airstrikes carried out within minutes across the country. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, the attacks mark one of the deadliest days since the escalation began on March 2, bringing the total death toll to 2,055 and leaving at least 6,588 injured.

Lebanese medical professionals reported that the intensity of the Israeli bombardment has pushed the nation’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, and many areas have been heavily affected by the strikes. The widespread destruction has made it increasingly difficult for medical staff to manage the influx of wounded patients.

The situation underscores the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon as the conflict continues to escalate, with health infrastructure struggling to cope with the scale of the devastation.

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stated that former President Donald Trump has no alternative but to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. She made the remarks on a CNN program on Sunday, emphasizing that failing to act against Iran would allow Tehran to gain more financial and strategic advantages, including funding proxies, purchasing ballistic missile equipment, and continuing its nuclear program.

According to a CNN report cited in the source, Trump’s plan to blockade the strait could serve as a test of Iran’s control over the key waterway. Such a move might avoid the need for risky ground troop deployments but could expose U.S. naval vessels to increased Iranian attacks. The report also noted that obstructing the strait could heighten diplomatic tensions with major powers such as China if U.S. forces attempt to stop their ships.

The issue has drawn global attention, with reports of international reactions and related developments involving Iran, the United States, and other stakeholders.

Saudi Arabia has announced that only the official Hajj visa will be valid for performing the annual pilgrimage. The country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the rule applies to all pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that the Hajj visa is the sole authorized means for participating in the pilgrimage.

According to a report by Saudi Gazette, visitors holding visit, transit, Umrah, or tourist visas will not be permitted to take part in Hajj rituals. The ministry clarified that such visa holders will not receive permission to perform Hajj. For residents and citizens within Saudi Arabia, the process differs slightly, requiring them to complete bookings through the “Nusuk” application to obtain a Hajj permit.

The ministry also warned that all official reservations and bookings for Hajj must be made only through authorized channels. It cautioned against using any unauthorized or fraudulent means for securing Hajj bookings.

International activists are preparing to sail from Barcelona, Spain, in a 70-boat convoy called the Global Resilience Flotilla, aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. The mission, set to depart on Sunday, includes about 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries. The vessels are carrying food, medicine, and school materials for Palestinian children. Organisers say the effort is coordinated with Palestinian civil society groups, maritime security experts, and international NGOs such as Greenpeace and Open Arms, with additional support from the Barcelona municipality.

Flotilla spokesperson Pablo Castilla said the mission seeks to condemn what organisers describe as international complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza, demand accountability, and open humanitarian corridors by sea and land. He warned that global attention on Gaza has waned amid other regional conflicts, allowing Israel to tighten its siege and expand settlements. The Gaza Strip has been under blockade since 2007 and faces a severe humanitarian crisis following Israel’s war that began in October 2023, which has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and displaced about 1.5 million people.

This voyage follows the first Global Resilience Flotilla in 2025, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. All previous flotillas since 2010 have faced similar interceptions or attacks.

The US military reported that five people were killed and one survived in its latest anti-drug operation in the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to a statement issued on Sunday, the attacks took place on April 11 against two suspected drug-trafficking vessels. The US Southern Command also released aerial footage of the operation on social media platform X, according to AFP.

The statement said that two men described as 'narco-terrorists' were killed and one survived in the first strike, while three more men labeled the same were killed in the second. However, no evidence was presented to support the drug-trafficking allegations. The military added that the total number of people killed in these operations has now reached at least 168.

The report did not provide further details about the identity of those killed or the specific location of the incidents within the eastern Pacific.

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat of a naval blockade, warning that any such attempt would end in failure. Mohsen Rezaei, senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the United States would face another historic defeat if it tried to block the Strait of Hormuz. He asserted that Iran’s armed forces would not allow any blockade to succeed.

The statement came after President Trump recently announced plans for a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Rezaei added that Iran possesses “unused capabilities” sufficient to counter any threat and criticized the United States for trying to pressure Iran through tweets and imaginary plans.

Earlier, Trump claimed that peace talks with Islamabad had failed because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions, further intensifying the strategic standoff in the region.