US Navy Takes Control Of The Strait Of Hormuz.

Tehran/Washington DC; April 2026: CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper says “a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented” and that US forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East. An estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is fuelled by international trade by sea, he said on X. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.

The US Central Command says the blockade on Iranian ports “is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran”. It said US Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets executing the blockade against Iranian ports. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 Sailors that are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations”, the statement added.

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent have said that China will not be able to get oil from Iran, and the US will block Chinese tankers carrying Iranian oil in the Strait of Hormuz. “They’re not going to be able to get their oil. They can get oil. Not Iranian oil”, Bessent told reporters in Washington, DC.

He went on to criticise China, which buys most of Iran’s oil, saying it was being an “unreliable global partner”, including by hoarding oil supplies and limiting exports of some goods. He said he has spoken with Chinese officials on the issue, but declined to answer a question on whether the dispute could derail Trump’s plan to visit Beijing in mid-May. “I think the message for the visit is stability. We’ve had great stability in the relationship since last summer; that emanates from the top down”, Bessent said. “I think that communication is the key”.

Meanwhile, Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, says the Iranians have not confirmed a second round of talks with the US. “However, there are efforts by regional players, specifically the mediators, in order to be moving in that direction”. He said some Iranians believe the US is hinting at talks to ease the shock to the global oil market following its blockade on Iranian ports. Iran considers the blockade a violation of the ceasefire, and this “can complicate the situation”, he said.

“The ceasefire, which is currently in place, is a very fragile one, and it is shaking because Israelis are attacking Lebanon, and the United States is implementing the blockade to somehow exacerbate the situation”, Aslani said. “We are waiting to see what will be the reaction from Iran, inside, to the recent blockade by the United States”.

If talks do take place, “it could be possible to reach a kind of understanding on the remaining sticking points, given that the delegations might be coming to the new venue with, let’s say, political decisions”, he added.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government will suspend a federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel until September 07th due to disruptions in supply following the US-Israel war on Iran. The move will begin on Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“This is expected to reduce Canadians’ bills at the gas station by 10 cents/litre on regular gasoline and 4 cents/litre on diesel. The government is also temporarily suspending the federal Fuel Excise Tax on aviation fuels”, it added. The statement further noted that the move was “a responsible measure that will reduce operating costs for truckers and businesses” and save Canadian’s money.

Team Maverick.