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.

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.

Apr 11, 2026, 9:51 AM EDT

Trump said US is in the 'process of clearing out' Strait, says this is a 'favor' to other countries

President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that this is a “favor” to other countries that don’t have the “courage” or “will” to do this themselves.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” he wrote on social media Saturday morning.

ABC News has asked the White House for more details on what the "process of clearing out" the Strait entails.

President Donald Trump walks to Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House, April 10, 2026, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

“Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil,” Trump added, repeating his earlier claim that empty oil tankers are currently on their way to the U.S.

The president continued to insist that Iran is “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!” and also repeated: “praise be to Allah” which he has previously written in a Truth Social post referring to Iran.

“Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime “Leaders” are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!” Trump said.

-ABC News' Emily Chang

Apr 11, 2026, 9:50 AM EDT

Trump says US-Iran peace talks have begun, says he has ‘no idea’ how they will go

Talks between the U.S. and Iran have begin in Islamabad, Pakistan, President Donald Trump said in an interview with NewsNation Saturday morning.

Trump was asked if he believes the Iranians are negotiating in good faith, responding: “I’ll let you know that in a very short period of time, won’t take long.”

PHOTO: U.S. Vice President JD Vance Leads U.S. Delegation In Peace Talks With Iran In Pakistan
U.S. Vice President JD Vance (2R) talks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir (L), Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi (C), and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials, on April 11, 2026, at Islamabad, Pakistan.
Jacquelyn Martin, Pool via Getty Images

The president was also asked whether or not he is hopeful about the outcome of the talks, to which he replied “whatever," and reiterated his previous statements about the U.S. military being able to "reset."

“Whatever, otherwise we'll reset. We're ready to go,” Trump reportedly said.

-ABC News' Emily Chang

Apr 11, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

US-Iran negotiations set to begin after delays over Iranian preconditions, Iranian news outlets say

Talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin after delays over Iran’s preconditions -- a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets -- Iran's semi official news agencies Fars and Tasnim said Saturday.

Progress has been made and intensive consultations in Islamabad “along with a reported reduction in Israeli strikes shifting from Beirut to southern Lebanon” — are being seen by Iran as signs of partial progress toward a ceasefire, Fars reported.

Fars also reported that the U.S. agreed in principle to the release of Iranian assets, but further discussions are needed to finalize the release.

The U.S. has denied that it has agreed to unblock Iranian assets.

-ABC News' Rashid Haddou-Riffi

Apr 11, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

Iranian delegation meets with Pakistani prime minister

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Iranian negotiators on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan.

"Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

In this photo released by the Pakistan Prime Minister Office, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, left, shakes hand with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prior to their meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026.
Pakistan Prime Minister Office via AP

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