Trump-issued naval blockade of Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz begins

The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal.

The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides.

But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach.

"Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension.

"They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume."

Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily."

He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone."

This is an excerpt from a report by Efrat Lachter.

A strategically important air base and port have been offered to the U.S. as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins and Iran-backed threats target the key Red Sea choke point of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Top U.S. military officials, including the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, recently visited facilities being offered in Somaliland. Somaliland is a pro-U.S. outpost, having broken away from war-torn Somalia in 1991.

Bab-el-Mandeb, which is Arabic for "gate of tears," has become the main route for oil to ship out of the Middle East to Asia since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed.

Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia has switched to shipping potentially up to 7 million barrels of oil a day from its port at Yanbu on the Red Sea through the strait.

It’s reported that up to 14% of the world’s shipping passes through the 16-mile-wide strait.

Enter the controversial offer to the U.S. of an air and naval base at Berbera in Somaliland. The official Republic of Somaliland site on X extolled Berbera’s virtues last month, boasting that it has "a deep water port along the artery connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean", and "one of Africa’s longest runways, originally developed as a NASA emergency landing site."

"Berbera obviously has huge strategic potential," for sea and air operations, Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former U.K. ambassador to Yemen and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital.

The U.S. does have another Red Sea base in Djibouti, but Fitton-Brown told Fox News Digital the government there is increasingly uncomfortable with some administration’s policies: "Djibouti becomes an increasingly reluctant, unwilling ally to the U.S. in helping enforce sanctions on the Houthis.

Somaliland, which is almost equally well-placed to address issues on the western and southwestern coasts of Yemen, can help the U.S., Israel and the UAE combat the Houthis."

The controversy comes over the question of U.S. recognition of Somaliland.

President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office last August, told reporters, "We’re looking into that right now," when asked about the recognition of Somaliland and the possible resettlement of Gazans there, adding, "We’re working on that right now, Somaliland."

This is an excerpt from a report by Paul Tilsley.

Israel is about to seize the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon after killing more than 100 members of the terror group in the area, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Monday.

The Times of Israel also reported that Hezbollah continued launching rocket strikes into northern Israel with two IDF soldiers moderately injured and six others lightly wounded in a drone attack.

Bint Jbeil, located in southern Lebanon, is considered a symbol of Hezbollah’s power. The IDF has encircled the town in recent weeks.

Hezbollah broke the ceasefire that had been in place since November 2024 in support of the Iranian regime.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Monday asked the Lebanese government to cancel a Tuesday meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington, before calling the talks pointless.

According to Reuters, Qassem said in a televised speech that Hezbollah will carry on confronting Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's foreign minister, Youssef Rajji, said Beirut would use Tuesday's meeting in the U.S. to push for a ceasefire deal with Israel through direct negotiations.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the U.S. was in a weak position regarding negotiations with Iran.

"I worry that the United States is now in a very weak position vis-à-vis Iran, which should be the outlier, should be on the back foot and should be the one held to account," Clinton told MS NOW's "Morning Joe" on Monday.

Clinton told MS NOW that the U.S. would have to wipe the slate clean for negotiations with Iran and said they would "have to bring in people who actually know something about nuclear weapons."

Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran collapsed over the weekend, with Vice President JD Vance departing Pakistan empty-handed.Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran collapsed over the weekend, with Vice President JD Vance departing Pakistan empty-handed.

"So we’re in a situation now where we are weak, where we essentially have lost the leverage and initiative that we had," Clinton added. "I supported Trump bombing the nuclear sites back in June. I thought that was an appropriate and limited strategic objective. I opposed his incoherent attack on Iran."

Clinton said the administration needed to get back to hard negotiations with the "right people at the table."

"And I also know from personal experience how [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has tried to get every American president to agree to have an open-ended war with Iran, because I had many, many long hours-long conversations with him and his war cabinet about this and refusing to go along with a very inchoate desire to do something to Iran that, you know, with no real end state that could be described as sufficiently," she said.

"So now here we are. I think you’ve got to get back into hard negotiations with the right people at the table who know what they are doing," Clinton added.

President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade Iran's ports in the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Hanna Panreck

President Donald Trump warned China it would face "big problems" if it supplies air defense systems to Tehran as Iran remains locked in a conflict with the United States and Israel. 

"If China does that, China is gonna have big problems, OK?" Trump told reporters Saturday.

The warning comes as U.S. intelligence assessments indicate China may be preparing to supply, or already could have moved to supply, shoulder-fired air defense systems to Iran, according to multiple news reports reporting on intelligence assessnents, though officials caution the information is not definitive and there is no evidence the weapons have been used against U.S. or Israeli forces. 

Trump’s warning also comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the two leaders expected to hold a summit in Beijing in May after it was postponed due to the ongoing conflict. The talks are likely to cover a range of issues, including trade tensions, Taiwan and the war involving Iran, placing additional pressure on U.S.-China relations as concerns mount over Beijing’s potential role in the conflict.

The potential transfer of Chinese-supplied air defenses could increase risks to U.S. aircraft operating in the region, particularly low-flying missions already vulnerable to shoulder-fired missiles.

China also has played a role in recent ceasefire efforts, pressing Iran to engage in talks with the United States and Israel through diplomatic outreach and coordination with regional partners, even as it denies providing military support to Tehran.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.

President Donald Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV on Monday and doubled down on his criticism of the Pontiff.

The comments came after Trump was asked about a statement by Bishop Robert Barron saying the president owed the pope an apology for calling his politics "terrible."

"No, I don't [apologize], because Pope Leo said things that are wrong," Trump told reporters at the White House. "He was very much against what I'm doing with with regard to Iran. And you can not have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. You have hundreds of millions of people dead and it's not going to happen. So I can't, I think he's very weak on crime and other things."

"So I'm not I mean, he, he went public. I'm just responding to Pope Leo, and, you know, his brother is a big MAGA person, and he's a great guy. Louis. And I said, I like Louis better than I like the Pope," he added.

U.S. Central Command revealed images of the USS Tripoli participating in the blockade against Iranian ports on Monday.

The Tripoli is an amphibious assault ship that is one of many vessels supporting Operation Epic Fury.

"USS Tripoli (LHA 7) conducts night flight operations while sailing in the Arabian Sea. Tripoli is designed without a traditional well deck, which allows for more F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, MV-22 Ospreys, helicopters, and extra maintenance space. During peak operations, the ship can surge to support up to 20+ F-35Bs," CENTCOM wrote.

More than 100 empty oil tankers are making their way to the U.S. to fill up as the war in Iran forces the industry to find new sources of oil.

Data from TankerTrackers and MarineTraffic shows that 121 oil tankers are en-route the U.S. Gulf Coast. Of those vessels, 68 are massive VLCC class tankers, capable of transporting 2 million barrels of oil each.

Bishop Robert Barron said Monday that President Donald Trump owes Pope Leo XIV an apology after Trump posted a scathing message about Leo in a Truth Social post. 

"The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Barron said in an X post. "They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree."

"I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration — Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others — might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place," he continued. "This is far preferable to the statements on social media."

"I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith," Barron added. "It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology." 

Barron’s response was to a Sunday Truth Social post from Trump where the president called Pope Leo out for his stance on foreign policy and the Iran war.

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Rachel del Guidice.

U.S. Central Command warned that the U.S. blockade against Iran applies to all vessels regardless of flag on Monday.

CENTCOM issues a notice to seafarers in the region before the blockade went into effect, two U.S. officials told Fox News Digital.

"Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture," the note said.

"The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations," the statement continued.

The blockade includes "the entirety of the Iranian coastline," the note said, adding that "humanitarian shipments including food, medical supplies, and other essential goods would be permitted, subject to inspection."

Fox News Liz Friden contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump has warned Iran to keep away from U.S. vessels enforcing Monday's blockade of the nation's ports.

Trump acknowledged that Iran still has a number of fast attack vessels despite suffering huge losses to its navy under Operation Epic Fury.

"Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, 'fast attack ships,' because we did not consider them much of a threat," Trump wrote.

"Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal," he added.

Qatar joined the U.S. in pressuring Iran to release its hold on shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassmin Al-Thani said he spoke with his Iranian counterpart on the issue, urging Tehran not to use the strait as a "bargaining chip."

"HE Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the need for all parties to respond positively to ongoing mediation efforts, calling for dialogue and peaceful means to address the root causes of the crisis and reach a sustainable agreement that prevents renewed escalation," the ministry said in a statement.

"He also underlined the importance of keeping maritime routes open and ensuring freedom of navigation, warning against using them as a bargaining chip," the statement continued.

"His Excellency further cautioned that any disruption to shipping lanes could have serious consequences for countries in the region, as well as for global energy and food supplies, with wider implications for international peace and security," it added.

The U.S. began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.

Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks with Tehran collapsed this weekend. A map of U.S. vessels in the region showed at least 17 ships deployed as of Monday morning.

US Central Command announced plans to enforce the blockade earlier Monday in a notice to seafarers.

"Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, ​diversion, and capture," the note said.

Iran has condemned the blockade as "piracy" and vowed to respond with force, potentially ending the fragile ceasefire with the U.S.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned President Donald Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV on Monday.

Pezeshkian made the comment on social media after Trump called Leo "terrible" on foreign policy, among other criticisms.

"His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah," Pezeshkian wrote.

Leo touched on the debate in comments to the press on Monday, saying he is "not afraid" of the Trump administration.

The pope said he did not want to get drawn into a debate, but he did offer back handed criticism of Trump, sarcastically referring to the name of Trump's "Truth Social" media platform.

“It’s ironic – the name of the site itself. Say no more," Leo said.

Peace negotiations with Iran fell apart after Tehran severely misjudged what kind of leverage the regime believed it held, a U.S. official told Fox News Digital on Sunday.

While Vice President JD Vance left Islamabad, Pakistan, without a deal between the U.S. and Iran, the official said Vance used the talks to measure the Iranians own assessment of their position in the negotiations.

Vance found that Tehran thought they held a strong hand going into negotiations, according to the official, who added that no deal can be achieved when one party deludes itself into believing they have leverage that, in reality, they do not have.

The U.S. official described the talks to Fox News Digital as starting out tough, though developing into a more friendly and productive dialogue over the duration of the 21-hour-long negotiations.

The high-stakes talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal after Iranian officials refused to accept American terms, Vance said earlier Sunday during a press conference from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan.

"So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on," Vance said at the time. "And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

The U.S. official said that over the course of the discussions, the Washington delegation determined it was clear that the Iranians did not comprehend that the core of any peace deal hinges on Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Stephen Sorace.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he supports President Donald Trump's order to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu says he spoke with Vice President JD Vance after peace talks collapsed in Pakistan on Sunday. He said the "explosion" in the talks came from the American side, which could not tolerate Iran's refusal to open the strait during the ceasefire.

"Since Iran violated the rules, President Trump decided to place a naval blockade on them. We of course support this firm position, and we are coordinated with the United States all the time," Netanyahu said.

Oil prices surged past $100 on Monday as the market reacts to President Donald Trump's order to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

FOX Business' Taylor Riggs predicted that Americans may be in for some "pain at the pump" in the short term, but argued it is necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran.

Former U.S. CENTCOM Deputy Commander Ret. Vice Adm. Robert Harward told Fox News on Monday that the U.S. would benefit from targeting leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps after peace talks collapsed this weekend.

Harward stated that Iran's whole navy is "under water," and predicted that President Trump's blockade against the nation's ports will be effective and successful.

Pope Leo XIV fired back after President Donald Trump attacked him on social media, saying his calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and should not be treated as a political argument with the White House.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration," the pope told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday en route to Algeria.

"The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," he added.

Trump had criticized the pope's positions on Sunday in a scathing rebuke on Truth Social.

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump began in a lengthy post.

"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church," he concluded.

The pope responded Monday, despite saying, "I will not enter into debate."

"The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone," he said, speaking in English, adding, "I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems."

"Too many people are suffering in the world today," Leo added. "Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Eric Mack.

Retired Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille joined Fox News to discuss how the U.S. Navy will enforce President Donald Trump's blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump addressed several pressing international conflicts after stepping off Air Force One in Maryland on Sunday, declaring that Iranian naval forces had been destroyed ahead of a planned energy blockade and expressing sharp disapproval of NATO for its perceived lack of support.

"Their military is destroyed," Trump said. "Their whole Navy is underwater. You know that 158 ships are gone. Their navy is gone. Most of their mine droppers are gone."

"At 10 tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect," Trump added. "Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil." 

Trump further underscored the United States’ energy independence, asserting that international vessels are bypassing traditional routes in favor of purchasing American oil.

"There are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it," he said. 

The president then expressed sharp disapproval of NATO countries, indicating that America's financial commitment to support the alliance, particularly against Russia, is going to be under "very serious examination."

"But I'm very disappointed in NATO," he said. "They weren't there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren't there for us."

While NATO countries are now stepping up to assist the U.S., Trump described the effort as too late.

"Now they want to come up, but there's no real threat anymore," he said.

"When you think of it, we're guarding against Russia," he added. "And I've long thought it was a little ridiculous, but we spent trillions of dollars doing it. And I think that's going to be under very serious examination." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Bonny Chu.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday an agreement with the United States was possible if Washington "abandons its totalitarianism and respects the rights of the Iranian nation."

"If the American government abandons its totalitarianism and respects the rights of the Iranian nation, ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found," he wrote on X.

He also praised Iran’s negotiating team, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, saying, "God gives you strength."

Talks between the two sides broke down Saturday after hours of negotiations in Pakistan.

Iran and the United States remained divided on key issues, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.