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Iran live updates: US blockade of Iran's Strait of Hormuz ports to begin Monday

CENTCOM said it will block all traffic 'entering and exiting Iranian ports.'

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Last updated: Monday, April 13, 2026 6:12PM GMT
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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.
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Apr 07, 2026, 7:24 PM GMT

Pope says Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization is 'unacceptable'

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization was "truly unacceptable" and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.

In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, Leo urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace.

"Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable," he said.

Leo spoke to reporters as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

He referred to Trump's threat that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

ByLuis Martinez ABCNews logo
Apr 07, 2026, 5:49 PM GMT

US carried out strikes on about 50 targets on Kharg Island, US official says

The U.S. carried out strikes against approximately 50 military targets on Kharg Island on Tuesday that had previously been struck last month, according to a U.S. official.

This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island.
This handout image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island.

In mid-March, the U.S. struck 90 military targets on the island, which is Iran's oil transportation hub. Those 90 targets were described then as including storage bunkers for naval lines and missiles, and other military infrastructure.

The island itself is roughly the same size as Key West, Florida, or a third the size of the island of Manhattan.

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Apr 07, 2026, 5:42 PM GMT

Rubio says he hopes there is an update on negotiations 'later today'

When asked by reporters if he expected Iran to come to the negotiating table, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "hope we have more news later today on that."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as he speaks to the press following a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting with Partner Countries at the Bourget airport March 27, 2026.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as he speaks to the press following a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting with Partner Countries at the Bourget airport March 27, 2026.

"The whole world's been impacted, unfortunately, because Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and it's a big problem for the world," he said.

ByNicholas Kerr ABCNews logo
Apr 07, 2026, 5:39 PM GMT

White House says 'only the president knows where things stand' on negotiations

The White House is responding to reports that Iranian officials have reportedly stopped negotiations with the U.S. ahead of President Donald Trump's 8:00 p.m. deadline, telling ABC News that the "only the president knows where things stand."

"The Iranian regime has until 8 p.m. Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

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