AH-64 Apache helicopters fly over the Strait of Hormuz, April 17, 2026, with multiple commercial vessels visible below, as U.S. Army crews maintain a persistent aerial presence to support freedom of navigation and monitor maritime traffic in the strategic waterway. U.S. Central Command Photo<\/p>\n
Trump Vows to Maintain Pressure on Iran Through Naval Blockade<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Patrick Sykes and Eltaf Najafizada<\/p>\n
May 1, 2026 (Bloomberg) \u2013US President Donald Trump vowed to maintain a naval blockade on Iran and was briefed by commanders on further military options, according to a report, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire between the warring countries.<\/p>\n
Trump reiterated that the blockade of Iranian ports is depriving the Islamic Republic of much-needed oil revenue, claiming the pressure would force Tehran back to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood luck blockading a country with those borders,\u201d Iran\u2019s speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X, referring to his country\u2019s large size. He and other Iranian officials say the blockade, which they insist must be lifted for the sides to go to new talks and for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, will<\/p>\n
further push up oil prices<\/p>\n
Brent was up 1.3% to around $112 a barrel on Friday, extending this week\u2019s gain to more than 6%.<\/p>\n
The comments from each of the leaders signal how they\u2019re waiting for the other to yield first.<\/p>\n
Trump was briefed at the White House on Thursday by the head of US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, and Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to Axios, which cited two unnamed US officials. Axios reported earlier that Centcom had prepared a plan for a brief wave of strikes to break the negotiating deadlock.<\/p>\n
High Fuel Prices Start to Bite in US as Gas Nears $5 in Midwest<\/p>\n
allies on a joint naval force to secure the Strait of Hormuz. New Zealand said it had received the proposal but would only support a US-led coalition if a sustainable ceasefire was in place. The effort, called the \u201cMaritime Freedom Construct,\u201d was spelled out in a State Department cable to US embassies on Tuesday that called on diplomats to press foreign governments into signing up, the Wall Street Journal reported.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Iran\u2019s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, cast doubt on the likelihood of a deal. He gave a rare statement in which he vowed not to give up the country\u2019s nuclear or missile technologies. He also signaled Tehran would keep control of the Hormuz strait.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s more on the war:<\/p>\n
Signs of strain on the Iranian economy have emerged in recent days, with the<\/p>\n
Iran activated air defenses around capital Tehran late on Thursday to counter reconnaissance drones. It\u2019s unclear what led to the activation.<\/p>\n
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with lawmakers on Thursday as Democrats<\/p>\n
the Iran war was nearing the 60-day threshold that triggers a requirement, per the War Powers Act, of Congressional authorization for any further action.<\/p>\n
Democrats say the Pentagon is underestimating the cost of the conflict. One US Senator<\/p>\n
the $25 billion figure it gave this week was \u201cprobably less than half, maybe less than a quarter, of the total cost of war.\u201d<\/p>\n
invited Iraq\u2019s prime minister nominee<\/p>\n
to visit Washington after he forms a new government, as the US seeks to limit Iran\u2019s influence on the Arab country. In a telephone call, Trump and Ali al-Zaidi discussed \u201cways to develop and strengthen\u201d bilateral relations between the US and Iraq in various fields,\u201d according to a statement from the Iraqi premier\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg L.P.<\/p>\n