Trump Adjusts Strategy: US and Iran Engage in Survival Game with Dual Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
On April 13, 2026, US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to halt Iran's oil exports and cripple its economy. This action followed the failure of US-Iran peace talks on April 11 in Islamabad. The situation has resulted in a 'dual blockade,' with Iran controlling the Strait and the US restricting Iranian vessel movements. Miad Maleki, a senior researcher at the Foundation of Defense of Democracies, estimates this blockade could cost Iran approximately $435 million daily. Major buyers of Iranian oil include China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. Despite the US being an energy exporter, rising international oil prices have doubled domestic gasoline and diesel costs, creating political pressure for the Trump administration.