US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

The escalation follows marathon talks in Pakistan that ended without a deal

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has come into force, heightening fears over security and trade routes in the region and adding to market jitters after US‑Iran talks in Pakistan on Saturday ended without a deal. US Central Command has said that the measures apply to vessels calling at Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

US President Donald Trump has launched a verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, an outspoken critic of the war on Iran, calling the American-born pontiff “weak.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump – who initially hailed Leo’s election as a “great honor” – said the Pope is “terrible for Foreign Policy,” with the US leader adding that he does not “want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States.” Speaking later aboard Air Force One, Trump doubled down, calling Leo “a liberal person” and saying: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job... I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo.”

The remarks came after the pontiff intensified calls for peace and diplomacy in the Middle East. On Friday, Leo wrote that “God does not bless any conflict” and “no cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood.”

On Monday, the Pope reiterated his stance, saying he “will continue to speak out loudly against war.”

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He added he was “not afraid” of Trump and refused to “get into a debate” with the US president. A senior Vatican official later dismissed Trump’s insults as “a declaration of impotence.”

The clash comes as Trump refused to rule out resuming “limited” strikes on Iran after ordering a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The move followed the collapse of 21-hour US-Iran talks in Pakistan at the weekend, which Tehran said broke down over “excessive” and “unreasonable” US demands. The US Department of War said enforcement of the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports will begin at 10:00 AM ET (14:00 GMT) on April 13.

The announcement sent global oil prices back above $100 and prompted Iran to warn any hostile activity in the strait would be met with force, declaring no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman would remain secure if its own ports are targeted.

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Here are the latest developments:

• Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Trump’s planned Hormuz blockade “makes no sense,” calling it part of a “downward spiral.”

• China warned the blockade threatens global trade, stressing the strait must remain “safe, stable, and unimpeded.”

• The UK said it will not join the blockade, adding Hormuz “must not be subject to tolling.”

• Iran said it is weighing tolls on all vessels transiting Hormuz, not just oil shipments.

• More than 32 million people could be pushed into poverty by the war’s fallout, the UN Development Program warned.

Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.