Iran war live: US military says it will block Iranian traffic in Hormuz

By Stephen Quillen, Heba Habib and Danai Nesta Kupemba

Published On 13 Apr 202613 Apr 2026

• The US military says it will block all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports, starting at 10am ET (14:00 GMT) today.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says any military vessel that approaches the Strait of Hormuz will be considered in violation of the ceasefire and “will be dealt with severely”.
• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says talks with the US in Pakistan failed because of Washington’s “maximalism, shifting goalposts and blockade”.
• Israel’s military bombards south Lebanon, killing at least four people in Maaroub, as Israeli soldiers seize all entrances to the town of Bint Jbeil as clashes with Hezbollah continue.

• 

  Lebanese army mourns soldier killed after Israeli attack

  The Lebanese Army has announced the death of a soldier, who died on Sunday as a result of injuries from a “Israeli hostile attack” that occurred on April 8 in the town of Shamshtar in eastern Baalbek.

  Abbas Hassan Qassem, 41, was a recipient of “several medals and commendations from the Army Commander, who congratulated him on several occasions,” the army said in a statement.

  Qassem was married and had three children, it added.
• 20m ago

   (04:30 GMT)

  

  US ‘grossly overestimating’ its ability to pressure Iran

  We’ve been speaking to Zohreh Kharazmi, an associate professor at the Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran.

  She said US threats to control the Strait of Hormuz are unlikely to shift Iran’s negotiating positions.

  “When you’re talking about a blockade of Hormuz, you’re talking maybe a contesting over the concept of resilience. I think Iran has sold 150 million barrels of oil this week and it has extended borders with different countries to actually account for the subsistence needs,” Kharazmi said.

  Therefore, the US is “grossly overestimating” its ability to compel Iran to change its positions, at least in the foreseeable future, she said.

  “Iran is very much ready for the retaliation. The control over Hormuz is the centrepiece of a new security paradigm in the region,” she said, adding that “shrinking petrodollar and changing it to petro Yuan will [also] bring a lot of changes to the current world”.

  The US, she said, “is not really in position to change this firm determination in Tehran”.

32m ago

 (04:20 GMT)

Democratic senator calls Trump’s attack on the Pope ‘abhorrent’ amid Iran war criticism

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has condemned President Trump for publicly attacking the Pope, calling it “abhorrent” in a post on X.

“As a Catholic, I find it abhorrent that the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St. Peter,” Kelly wrote. “Donald Trump is flailing. His war in Iran has led to the death and injury of American service members and the death of Iranian children.”

Kelly said that Trump “will attack anyone or anything to try to protect himself, even the Church that millions of Americans find faith and comfort in every day”.

Senator Mark Kelly

@SenMarkKelly

As a Catholic, I find it abhorrent that the President of the United States would publicly attack the Successor of St. Peter. Donald Trump is flailing. His war in Iran has led to the death and injury of American servicemembers and the death of Iranian children. He will attack anyone or anything to try to protect himself, even the Church that millions of Americans find faith and comfort in every day. The American people deserve a president who understands the consequences of his words and takes responsibility for his actions.

1:13 pm · 13 Apr 2026

·

166.8K

Views

• 43m ago

   (04:10 GMT)

  Gulf states planning for possible long-term closure of Hormuz Strait

  

  By Hamza Mohamed

  Reporting from Doha, Qatar

  The US says two Navy destroyers went through the Strait of Hormuz, saying those ships were clearing mines from the water. Iran says that did not happen, that they forced those ships to turn back and that they did not cross the strait.

  There is no way for us to independently verify the claims of either side.

  On the civilian side, we have been looking at data from ship-tracking websites. On Sunday, two ships, one sailing under the flag of Malta, the other under the flag of Pakistan, attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz, but turned back. Those oil tankers were empty and were heading to Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. We do not know the reason behind their decision not to proceed.

  What we have been seeing across the region is that GCC countries are not waiting for the US or Iran to come up with an alternative or agree on a way to allow ships to pass.

  We have less than 11 hours until Donald Trump’s blockade kicks in.

  Countries have started making their own plans. Saudi Arabia released a statement on Sunday, saying it has restored the East-West pipeline to full capacity – around 7 million barrels of oil a day. It has also restored the Manifa oil facility on the east coast of the country, which pumps around 300,000 barrels a day.

  Across the region, there is very little traffic in terms of civilian and energy ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. What we are seeing instead are countries making long-term plans for a scenario in which the strait does not reopen, and no ceasefire or agreement is reached between Washington and Tehran.
• 53m ago

   (04:00 GMT)

  WATCH: Family of 4 killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon

  We’ve been reporting on an Israeli raid that killed four members of the Saeed family in Lebanon’s Srifa, including an infant girl.

  The strikes come as doctors in Lebanon warn that medical facilities are overwhelmed, with dozens of communities affected.