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Trump vows Hormuz blockade — can the US Navy actually enforce it? | DW News
April 12, 2026
DW News
US President Donald Trump says the US Navy will blockade the Strait of Hormuz — stopping ships that have paid Iran for passage. The announcement comes after failed peace talks with Tehran, and raises urgent questions about whether such a move is even feasible. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, carrying around a fifth of global oil supplies.
But enforcing a blockade in such a narrow and heavily trafficked waterway would be a major military operation — and could risk direct confrontation with Iran. In this DW News analysis, we examine: What a US naval blockade of Hormuz would involve Whether the US has the forces to enforce it How Iran could respond using asymmetric tactics And whether this risks escalation into open conflict We speak to Sascha Bruchmann, military expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. 00:08 Trump announces Hormuz blockade 00:28 Trump: “We’re going to be blockading” 01:28 What would a blockade look like? 02:25 Does the US have enough forces? 03:58 Can the US control the Strait? 05:31 How Iran could respond 07:18 When does this become conflict? #dwnews #straitofhormuz #trump For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
DW News
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