Key Takeaways:

• President Trump declared on April 23, 2026, that the U.S. Navy has sealed the Strait of Hormuz pending an Iran deal.
• Iran seized two container ships on April 22, retaliating after the USS Spruance disabled and boarded the MV Touska on April 19.
• Brent crude prices spiked on April 23 as the U.S. blockade, now active since April 13, disrupts roughly 20% of global oil trade.

Trump posted the statement on Thursday on Truth Social, writing:

Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know! The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY! We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is ‘Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

The post followed a week of active naval enforcement. On April 19, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship MV Touska in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait. After the vessel ignored warnings, the Navy fired on its engine room to disable it. U.S. Marines then boarded and seized the ship, marking the first major enforcement action since the blockade began.

Iran responded three days later. On April 22, Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and attacked a third. Iranian state television broadcast footage of the seizures, which Tehran framed as retaliation for the MV Touska boarding.

On Thursday, U.S. forces reportedly seized another Iranian-linked oil tanker connected to smuggling operations. Trump separately ordered the Navy to shoot without hesitation at any small boats laying mines in the Strait, and announced that mine-sweeping efforts had been tripled.

The U.S. formally announced the blockade on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, following the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan. The stated goal is to cut off Iranian oil revenue and pressure Tehran into negotiations. The U.S. has said its enforcement targets only Iranian-linked vessels and ports, with non-Iranian commercial traffic generally permitted passage.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20 percent of global oil trade. Brent crude prices moved sharply higher on Thursday as the naval standoff continued. Iran has denied U.S. claims of total control, with independent shipping data showing some disruption and vessel turn-backs but not a complete halt to traffic.

Iran’s Foreign Minister blamed U.S. and Israeli aggression for the ongoing tensions. Iran has maintained it will not negotiate or cooperate while the blockade remains in place, calling U.S. actions an act of war. Some Iranian oil tankers have reportedly used dark fleet tactics to bypass enforcement.

The broader military backdrop involves a ceasefire from the U.S.-Iran-Israel conflict that escalated in late February 2026. Trump extended that ceasefire indefinitely this week, even as the naval blockade remains active.

Amid the operations, the U.S. Navy Secretary was removed following internal disputes over the Iran campaign. The personnel change comes as CENTCOM coordinates enforcement across the Gulf of Oman and the Strait.

Pakistan has been mediating diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. No full-scale resumption of hostilities has occurred, but the naval standoff shows no sign of resolution. Iran has not confirmed any willingness to enter formal negotiations under current conditions.

The situation continues to shift, with military posturing, oil market pressure, and diplomatic back-channels all active simultaneously.