![\"US](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130222288,imgsize-865698,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/-.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe US military has announced it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT (April 13), while allowing vessels not bound for Iran to continue transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.\u201cThe blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,\u201d US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X on Sunday.\u201cCENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,\u201d it added, appearing to soften President Donald Trump\u2019s earlier remarks in which he said \u201cany and all Ships\u201d would be blocked.The move follows Trump\u2019s order for a sweeping naval blockade after nearly 20 hours of talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough. The US president accused Iran of refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions despite what he described as largely productive negotiations.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the talks \u201cwent well\u201d and that \u201cmost points were agreed to,\u201d but insisted Tehran remained \u201cunyielding as to the single most important issue,\u201d declaring: \u201cIRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!\u201dTrump said he had been \u201cfully debriefed\u201d by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner after the Pakistan-facilitated talks.He also accused Iran of backtracking on assurances to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, warning the situation had caused \u201canxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World.\u201d\u201cThey say they put mines in the water,\u201d Trump wrote, adding that uncertainty had already deterred global shipping. \u201cWhat ship owner would want to take the chance?\u201dCalling the situation \u201cWORLD EXTORTION,\u201d Trump said the US would respond with immediate and forceful measures.\u201cEffective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,\u201d he said.He added that US forces would \u201cseek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,\u201d warning that \u201cno one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.\u201dTrump also said US naval units would begin clearing mines allegedly laid by Iran and issued a stark warning: \u201cAny Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!\u201dHe said the blockade would remain in place until free navigation is restored, calling the current situation a violation of international norms.At the same time, Trump signalled a possible off-ramp, saying that \u201cat some point, we will reach an \u2018ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT\u2019 basis,\u201d while blaming Iran for preventing such an outcome.<\/div>\n\n