Trump Vows to Maintain Iran Blockade Until Formal Peace Agreement Reached
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the United States naval blockade against Iran will remain in full effect until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached with the Iranian government. The statement, delivered from the White House, marks one of the most explicit conditions yet placed on the ongoing maritime operation in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
“The blockade will stay in place until a peace agreement is signed with Iran. That is not negotiable,” Trump said during a brief press availability. He did not specify whether the administration seeks a new, formalized accord or a return to negotiations under the framework of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, from which the United States withdrew in 2018.
The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has maintained a heightened presence in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea since early 2025. Defense Department officials confirmed that at least two carrier strike groups and multiple destroyers are currently deployed to enforce the blockade, which targets Iranian oil exports and weapons shipments. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani responded on state television Friday, calling the blockade “an act of economic warfare” and warning of “proportional measures” in retaliation. Kanaani did not elaborate on specific actions. Iran’s navy has conducted several short-range exercises near the strait in recent weeks, though no direct confrontations with U.S. vessels have been reported.
The blockade has drawn mixed reactions from key U.S. allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement through his office in Jerusalem expressing “full support for the United States’ determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or destabilizing the region.” Israeli defense officials have long argued that Tehran’s uranium enrichment program, which the International Atomic Energy Agency reported at 60 percent purity as of February 2026, poses an existential threat.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged restraint from both sides during a press conference in Brussels. “The European Union supports diplomatic solutions and believes that a naval blockade, while a legitimate tool under international law in certain circumstances, risks escalating an already volatile situation,” Kallas said. She confirmed that EU mediators remain in contact with both Washington and Tehran.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued a shorter statement, noting that London “stands with the United States in its efforts to prevent Iranian aggression” but declined to explicitly endorse the blockade’s indefinite duration. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Navy frigates continue to operate alongside U.S. vessels in the region under existing maritime security agreements.
Japan and the Philippines, both key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, have expressed concern about potential disruptions to energy supplies. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo that Japan “urges all parties to pursue peaceful resolution” and noted that Tokyo is in direct communication with Washington regarding exemptions for Japanese oil tankers. The Philippines, which relies on imported oil for roughly 90 percent of its energy needs, has not issued a formal position.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement from Taipei, said the island “appreciates the United States’ steadfast commitment to regional stability” and confirmed that its own energy reserves are sufficient for several months of normal consumption. Taiwan imports approximately 30 percent of its crude oil from Middle Eastern sources, according to the Bureau of Energy.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, speaking at a regular briefing in Beijing, condemned the blockade as “unilateral coercive measures that violate international law.” Wang called for an immediate lifting of the operation and reiterated China’s position that negotiations should resume without preconditions. China is Iran’s largest oil customer, purchasing roughly 1.5 million barrels per day according to tanker tracking data from Vortexa Analytics.
Russia’s Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-owned news agency TASS that Moscow “views the U.S. blockade as a dangerous provocation” and called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. Russia has provided Iran with advanced air defense systems and technical assistance for its nuclear program, according to declassified U.S. intelligence reports from 2024.
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement supporting the president’s position. “Iran has repeatedly violated international norms, attacked commercial shipping, and funded proxy militias across the Middle East. A firm naval posture is necessary to protect American interests and those of our allies,” Risch said.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), a member of the same committee, offered a more cautious assessment. “Blockades are acts of war under international law. The administration must come to Congress for authorization if this operation continues indefinitely,” Murphy wrote on social media.
The blockade has already disrupted Iranian oil exports. Tanker tracking firm TankerTrackers.com reported that Iranian crude shipments fell to approximately 400,000 barrels per day in March 2026, down from an average of 1.2 million barrels per day in late 2024. The U.S. Treasury Department has also imposed additional sanctions on 14 entities and eight vessels accused of transporting Iranian oil to foreign buyers.
No timeline for potential peace talks has been announced. The White House confirmed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has held preliminary discussions with Swiss intermediaries, who have represented U.S. diplomatic interests in Iran since 1980. Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed any such contacts.
