Trump's Iran Blockade Not Working as Multiple Ships Pass Through

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published. Apr 14, 2026 at 10:56 AM EDT. updated. Apr 14, 2026 at 12:04 PM EDT


At 10 a.m. ET on Monday, the U.S. navy began its blockade of Iranian ports, aimed at the Iranian tankers and the other Iran-friendly ships which have managing to traverse the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had been demanding Iran open the international waterway, which usually sees the transit of one-quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade.

Since the war has begun though, traffic has plunged 90 percent, sparking global supply panic and rising oil and fuel prices. Following the breakdown of talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators on Sunday, Trump announced the U.S. would blockade the already impacted strait to retaliate against Iran. But it doesn't appear to be working.

In the first 24 hours since the operation began, at least seven ships have made it through including four tankers linked to Iran. One was a Chinese-owned vessel sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023 for carrying Iranian oil. That was spotted on the other side of the Strait in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.

Along with question as to how the U.S. would feasibly police the strait in this way, there are also questions around who this is aimed at and why. Many have interpreted the U.S. blockade as being aimed at Iran's shadow fleet which carries oil supplies many suspect go to China- the destination for nearly all Iran's oil exports.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-iran-blockade-not-working-as-chinese-ship-and-others-pass-through-11825038

[Lovie777]

1. Do shithole ever tell the truth...............

[EarthFirst]

2. Couldn't pour water from a boot with instructions on the heel...

JFC

[niyad]

14. Soooo stealing this one! Thank you!

[BootinUp]

3. It's going to get harder, not easier, I predict. Nt

[Eugene]

4. China called tRump's bluff.

Who could have forseen this?

[Martin68]

5. What is Trumps' navy going to do? Sink every tankers and freighter that enters the strait?

[Old Crank]

15. That was my thought

How do you stop them?
Board them and take control?
Then what?
Sink them after hopefully removing the crew?

[Prairie Gates]

6. The Navy's not going to fire on or interdict a China-bound tanker filled with oil

Trump's a clown and his blockade is a joke. He thinks he's playing with Cuba or Venezuela in the Caribbean?

He should stick to his pseudo-Monroe Doctrine because this shit doesn't play outside of the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Commercial Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Blockades Iran's Ports

LIVE * 2 hours ago

Commercial Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Blockades Iran’s Ports

By Shelby Holliday

More than 20 commercial ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, according to two U.S. officials. While commercial traffic is still a fraction of what it was before the war, the flow of vessels is an improvement through a critical chokepoint.

President Trump has demanded that Iran reopen the strait. Earlier this week, two U.S. warships traveled through the waterway in a freedom of navigation mission that was designed to help establish a new passage and encourage the free flow of commerce amid concerns about Iranian sea mines. U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, said it began an effort to clear mines on Saturday.

{snip}

[Prairie Gates]

8. Have they interdicted a single ship?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. A) All of them. B) Maybe. NT

[RoseTrellis]

10. Yes

Centcom says 6, but I could only find 3.

[RoseTrellis]

11. Trump made it confusing

Trump ran his mouth, and what he said differs from what Centcom published.
It appears the main source of confusion is WHERE the US is enforcing their blockade. It is NOT at the straits itself, rather it’s much further east, 50-100 miles in the Gulf of Oman. The last thing the US Navy wants to do is operate in the choke point itself, they can have the exact same effect by interdicting traffic just a little way east outside the SoH; looking at a map the US can easily maintain a picket line and stop any ship before it gets into the Arabian Sea.

[maxsolomon]

12. Then why are ships going through?

We're choosing not to enforce?

[RoseTrellis]

13. Never about all ship

Trump, like always, can’t help himself and speaks off the cuff. Probably doesn’t remember what was agreed to with Centcom.
Their official statement makes it clear it was never about ALL ships, just ones leaving from Iranian ports and their coast.

Follow this guy for the best analysis I’ve been able to find.

“U.S. Central Command will enforce a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas effective 1400 UTC on 13 April 2026.
This blockade will be enforced in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade encompasses the entirety of the Iranian coastline to include but not limited to ports and oil terminals. The blockade applies to all vessel traffic, regardless of flag.
Neutral vessels currently in Iranian ports are granted a grace period to depart Iranian ports that expires at 1400 UTC on 13 April 2026. Following this time, any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture.
The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations.”