President Trump says US Navy will begin blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. and Iran failed to reach a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations.

ByDavid Brennan, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: April 12, 2026, 10:22 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.

Trump set a deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face broad strikes on its critical infrastructure. Hours before the deadline expired, Trump said he had agreed to suspend planned bombing for two weeks if Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi then said that "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the ceasefire with Iran, but that Lebanon -- where intense Israeli strikes continued -- was not covered by the agreement, despite Iranian protests.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 08, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT

China welcomes ceasefire announcement, official says

In Beijing's first official comments since the two-week ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday that China "welcomes the ceasefire agreement."

China, Mao said, will "support the mediation efforts" by Pakistan and other parties.

China "made its own efforts," Mao said, noting that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 26 phone calls with counterparts from relevant countries. Beijing's special Middle East envoy also shuttled between Gulf nations to build support for a five-point Chinese-Pakistani peace proposal, Mao said.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer military aircraft stand parked at RAF Fairford airbase in Fairford, Gloucestershire, U.K., on April 8, 2026.
Toby Melville/Reuters

-ABC News' Karson Yiu

Apr 08, 2026, 3:51 AM EDT

Abu Dhabi gas complex suspends operations after attack

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a post to X on Wednesday that operations were suspended at the Habshan gas complex due to "multiple fires" set by falling projectile debris after what it said was "a successful interception."

"Operations have been suspended and further updates will be provided in due course," the media office said. It added that three people -- two Emiratis and one Indian national -- sustained "minor injuries" in the incident.

The media office first reported a fire at the facility in a post to its X account at 4:38 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning, after the U.S.-Iranian announcements of a tentative two-week ceasefire.

Apr 08, 2026, 3:11 AM EDT

2 injured in Bahrain by drone interception shrapnel, ministry says

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said in a post to X on Wednesday morning that two people were injured and several homes damaged by falling shrapnel after air defenses intercepted an Iranian drone.

Apr 08, 2026, 12:24 AM EDT

Trump says US 'will be helping with the traffic buildup' in Strait of Hormuz

In a late- night social media post following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire deal, President Donald Trump called it "a big day for World Peace!" and claimed that the U.S. "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz."

"There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will," Trump said in the post.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump said that a two-week ceasefire with Iran was contingent on agreeing to "the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz."

It’s unclear when that will happen, and what role the U.S. might play in reopening the critical waterway.

-ABC News' Meg Mistry

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