{"id":7524,"date":"2026-04-16T13:36:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jubaglobal.com\/?p=7524"},"modified":"2026-04-16T13:36:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:36:51","slug":"trump-declares-iran-war-very-close-to-over-as-u-s-hormuz-blockade-enters-fourth-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/trump-declares-iran-war-very-close-to-over-as-u-s-hormuz-blockade-enters-fourth-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Declares Iran War ‘Very Close to Over’ as U.S. Hormuz Blockade Enters Fourth Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com<\/strong>
April 16, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 President Donald Trump expressed strong optimism on Wednesday, stating that the ongoing conflict with Iran is \u201cvery close to being over,\u201d even as the U.S.-led naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz entered its fourth day and continues to choke off Tehran\u2019s maritime trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Fox Business, Trump told anchor Maria Bartiromo: \u201cI think it\u2019s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over.\u201d His remarks come amid a fragile two-week ceasefire that has largely held since early April, following weeks of intense U.S. and Israeli military strikes that began on February 28, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president\u2019s bullish assessment contrasts with the continued enforcement of one of the most significant maritime operations in recent decades. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian ports is now \u201cfully implemented,\u201d with American naval forces achieving \u201cmaritime superiority\u201d in the region. No vessels have successfully breached the restrictions in the initial days, according to Pentagon briefings, effectively halting Iran\u2019s seaborne oil and gas exports that normally account for a critical portion of its economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background: From Ceasefire to Blockade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The current situation traces back to escalating tensions earlier this month. After marathon 21-hour peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a breakthrough \u2014 primarily over Iran\u2019s nuclear program \u2014 President Trump ordered the blockade to begin on April 13. The move followed Iran\u2019s earlier de facto control and partial shutdown of the strait, which the U.S. administration described as \u201cextortion\u201d through tolls and threats to global shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump had previously warned of severe consequences if Iran did not comply with demands to abandon nuclear ambitions and reopen the waterway. In early April, he issued stark statements, including one suggesting that failure to reach a deal could result in \u201ca whole civilization will die tonight,\u201d before announcing a temporary two-week ceasefire to allow further negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided updates at the Pentagon, confirming that U.S. forces have turned back multiple vessels attempting to transit to or from Iranian ports. The operation involves significant naval assets, including carrier strike groups, and focuses on interdicting ships in international waters that have engaged with Iranian toll systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic Pressure and Global Ripples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The blockade is exerting massive economic pressure on Iran, with estimates suggesting daily losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars from halted energy exports. Roughly 20% of global oil supply and significant fertilizer trade typically pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, making any sustained disruption a major concern for world markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oil prices have remained elevated but relatively stable near $95 per barrel as of April 16, as optimism over potential renewed talks has partially offset supply fears. However, analysts warn that prolonged restrictions could trigger broader inflation risks and energy shocks worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum described the strategy as \u201cbrilliant,\u201d arguing it leverages American naval power to squeeze Iran economically without immediate escalation into wider ground operations. Trump has also signaled that additional countries may join the effort, though the UK and Spain have publicly declined participation, and France has called for a defensive multinational mission to secure passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has voiced concerns over the blockade\u2019s impact on global trade, while monitoring developments closely. Tehran has labeled the U.S. action \u201cpiracy\u201d and threatened retaliation, including potential disruption in the Red Sea or other regional waterways if the pressure continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Path to Renewed Talks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the military posturing, diplomatic channels remain active. Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military leadership, are intensifying mediation efforts. Trump indicated that a second round of direct or indirect U.S.-Iran talks could resume \u201cin the next two days\u201d or soon after, building on back-channel discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice President JD Vance had pushed for a long-term suspension of Iranian nuclear activities during earlier negotiations, while Iran proposed shorter suspensions. The nuclear issue remains the core sticking point, alongside demands for verifiable limits on Iran\u2019s ballistic missile program and regional proxy activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. is \u201cnot finished\u201d if Iran attempts to break the ceasefire or pursue nuclear weapons, warning of overwhelming response. At the same time, he has highlighted the success of recent military actions in degrading Iranian capabilities, claiming the regime\u2019s military has been significantly weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reactions and Concerns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

International observers are divided. Supporters of the administration argue the blockade represents a smart shift from kinetic strikes to targeted economic leverage, potentially forcing Tehran back to the table on favorable terms. Critics, including some former officials, warn of humanitarian risks if food, medicine, and essential imports are fully cut off for an extended period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Congress, Senate Republicans have continued to back the president\u2019s approach, rejecting Democratic resolutions aimed at limiting war powers. However, anxiety is growing on Capitol Hill about the duration of the conflict and its broader implications for U.S. forces in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon has announced plans to deploy over 10,000 additional troops and personnel to reinforce operations, including sailors and Marines associated with key naval assets already in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Next?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the blockade enters its fourth day, all eyes are on whether the economic squeeze will prompt Iran to make concessions or lead to further escalation. Trump\u2019s optimistic tone suggests confidence in an impending resolution, but the situation remains highly fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran has signaled readiness for a \u201clong-term war\u201d if its \u201crights\u201d in the strait are not secured, while continuing to claim that some tankers have successfully navigated the area despite U.S. assertions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juba Global News Network will continue monitoring developments from Washington, the Persian Gulf, and diplomatic capitals. The coming hours and days could determine whether the conflict winds down toward a negotiated end or enters a more dangerous phase of confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This in-depth report provides comprehensive context on one of the most critical geopolitical stories of 2026. For real-time updates, visit JubaGlobal.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comApril 16, 2026 WASHINGTON \u2014 President Donald Trump expressed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[830,643,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-more-articles","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7526,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7524\/revisions\/7526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}