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Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Aug 18, 2026· Updated

Trump Orders U.S. Navy Blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Hours after the Islamabad peace talks collapsed without a deal on April 12, 2026, President Trump announced the U.S. Navy would "immediately" begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz — the chokepoint for 20% of global energy supplies. Trump ordered the Navy to interdict "any and all ships" entering or leaving the strait and to seize vessels that have paid tolls to Iran. Oil prices surged above $100/barrel. The blockade is backed by a mine-clearing operation and a 40+ nation coalition led by the U.K. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned the U.S. would be "trapped in a deadly vortex" if it made the wrong move. Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner questioned the logic: the strait was open before the war started.

“The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Aug 18, 2026

Senate Republicans Block War Powers Resolution to End Trump's Cuba Blockade

On April 28, 2026, Senate Republicans voted 51-47 to dismiss a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would have required President Trump to obtain congressional approval to continue the US energy blockade of Cuba. Republicans argued the resolution was out of order because the US is not engaged in outright hostilities with Cuba, sidestepping the substance of whether Trump needed congressional authorization for the naval blockade. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans to kill the resolution. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) were the only Republicans to break with their party and support the measure. Kaine argued the blockade had caused a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, including disrupted medical care, lack of clean water, and spiking food prices. The vote marked the latest in a series of congressional attempts to use the War Powers Act to constrain Trump's unilateral military and paramilitary actions during his second term.

“I've been consistent: presidents of both parties need congressional authorization before taking the country into military or paramilitary confrontation. The Cuba blockade is no exception.”
Rand Paul (R-KY) · Apr 28, 2026

US Navy Fires On and Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Touska

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on April 19, 2026 — the first forcible seizure since the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began. After six hours of warnings, Spruance fired on the Touska's engine room to disable it; US Marines then boarded and took custody. Trump announced on Truth Social that "it did not go well for them" and threatened to "take out their bridges and their power plants" if Iran doesn't sign a deal before the ceasefire expires Wednesday. Iran's joint military command accused the US of "armed piracy" and "violating the ceasefire," vowing the armed forces "will soon respond and retaliate." The seizure threw planned Islamabad peace talks into doubt, with Iran declining to confirm its participation. Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf declared it "impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."

“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our naval blockade, and it did not go well for them. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 19, 2026

Iran Re-Closes Strait of Hormuz and Fires on Indian Ships

One day after briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guard reversed course on April 18, 2026, re-closing the waterway and firing on two Indian-flagged merchant ships — the tanker Sanmar Herald and cargo vessel Jag Arnav — forcing them to turn back. The IRGC warned that "no vessel should make any movement" toward the strait and declared it would remain shut "until the US restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran." The re-closure came after President Trump declared the strait "COMPLETELY OPEN" on Truth Social while simultaneously insisting the US naval blockade on Iran would remain "in full force." Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire deal by maintaining the blockade. India summoned Iran's ambassador, calling the attack on its ships "completely unacceptable." European allies demanded unconditional reopening of the strait.

“We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again, as they've been doing for years, and they can't blackmail us.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 18, 2026