Your Daily Middle East Briefing

US Threatens Strait of Hormuz Blockade as Iran Ceasefire Talks Collapse

• US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, April 12, 2026, that the US Navy would "immediately" initiate a blockade of ships entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz, following the breakdown of ceasefire talks with Iran in Pakistan. Iran's Revolutionary Guard swiftly responded, asserting the strait remains under their "full control" and threatening a "forceful response" to any military vessels attempting to approach. Adding a layer of complexity to maritime security, Iran has reportedly laid naval mines in a 1,394 sq km "hazardous area" within the Strait of Hormuz, including established shipping lanes. This tactic forces merchant ships into Iranian territorial waters, where Iran then extracts "protection fees" for safe passage, a practice deemed illegal under international maritime law. In a separate development, Saudi Arabia successfully restored full pumping capacity of 7 million barrels per day to its critical East-West pipeline on Sunday, April 12, 2026, and resumed production at the Manifa oil field. This rapid recovery follows drone attacks last week that had disrupted oil infrastructure, underscoring the Kingdom's resilience in maintaining global energy supplies, particularly as the East-West pipeline offers a vital alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, Saudi Arabia summoned Iraq's Ambassador Safia Taleb al-Suhail over "continued attacks and threats" from drones launched from Iraqi territory targeting the Kingdom and other Gulf states.

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