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US-Iran war as it happened: Trump says US will ‘blockade’ the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks failed over Iran’s ‘nuclear ambitions’

Emily Kaine, Ellen Connolly and Melissa Cunningham
Updated ,first published
Pinned post from 5.00pm on Apr 13, 2026
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What we covered today

By Melissa Cunningham

Thank you for reading our rolling coverage of the war in the Middle East. You can find tomorrow’s live coverage of the Iran war here.

Until then, here’s what you need to know:

  • US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (Washington time) the US would begin a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a stand-off that has brought the critical waterway to a near standstill and disrupted global energy supplies.
  • Experts have warned that oil could soon skyrocket past $US150 a barrel if the US goes ahead with a planned naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, surged above $US103 a barrel on Monday after weekend talks between Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a global energy crisis that’s shaken world markets.
  • Trump’s announcement came hours after he said marathon peace talks in Pakistan collapsed because of Iran’s unwillingness “to give up its nuclear ambitions”.
  • The blockade will further squeeze global oil supply, drive up fuel prices and cut off a vital lifeline for the Islamic Republic.
  • Our senior economics correspondent, Shane Wright, reports that Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz has already had a major impact on commodity and equity markets. Crude oil prices have jumped by more than 7 per cent in early trade. West Texas finished last week’s trade around $US95 a barrel, but this morning, investors pushed it back to $US104 a barrel. It’s a similar story for Brent crude, which has also climbed in price by more than 7 per cent.
  • Trump has lashed out at Pope Leo in a post to Truth Social, calling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy”, before saying “Leo should get his act together.”

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In criticising Pope, Trump exposes his own God complex

By Michael Koziol

Minutes after posting his rant about Pope Leo being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy”, Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as Jesus Christ healing the sick – overlooked by an American flag, fighter jets and a bald eagle.

It was typical of the AI slop that is regularly amplified by the president’s social media account. But it was a good reminder, if one was needed, that this is a president and an administration that is happy to take the lord’s name – and image – in vain, while portraying themselves as men of God.

The AI-generated image posted by Donald Trump showing himself as a messianic figure.Truth Social / @realdonaldtrump

Not only did Trump malign Leo as a wannabe politician who should “get his act together” and focus on his job, but he claimed Leo was selected as pope not because of any personal attributes, divine insights or leadership qualities, but because the Vatican thought he might get on better with Trump.

“He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump,” the president asserted on Truth Social. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

Oil could skyrocket past $US150 a barrel in blockade

By

Oil prices should be much higher than current levels if the US goes ahead with a planned naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a veteran oil market executive.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, surged above $US103 a barrel on Monday after weekend talks between Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a global energy crisis that’s shaken world markets. US forces will begin implementing the blockade, which applies to all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports, from 10am on Monday (midnight Monday AEST).

Donald Trump plans for the US to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.Matthew Absalom-Wong

“The number we saw this morning – $103, [an] 8 per cent increase – is not reflective at all of what could happen if the US really decides to go with this interdiction,” Onyx Capital Group managing director Jorge Montepeque said on Bloomberg Television.

He warned that the price could rise to $US150 a barrel if the US proceeds with the blockade.

How would Trump’s Hormuz blockade actually work?

By

Washington: A US naval blockade of Iran is a major, open-ended military endeavour that could trigger fresh retaliation from Tehran and put tremendous strain on an already fragile ceasefire, experts say.

US President Donald Trump, in a social media post after no deal emerged from peace talks this weekend in Islamabad, said the US Navy “will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”.

Enforcing a blockade would require significant naval assets.AP

The US military’s Central Command later said the blockade would only apply to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

It would take effect on Monday at 10am in Washington (midnight, AEST), Centcom said.

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Blockade plans shake up global markets

By Shane Wright

Donald Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz has had a major impact on commodity and equity markets this morning.

Crude oil prices alone have jumped by more than 7 per cent in early trade. West Texas finished last week’s trade around $US95 a barrel, but this morning, investors have pushed it back to $US104 a barrel.

It’s a similar story for Brent crude, which has also climbed in price by more than 7 per cent.

The Australian dollar, which was approaching US71¢ late last week, dipped below US70¢ this morning, before recovering a little to sit around US70.19¢.

The ASX200 opened down by 0.4 per cent given the uncertainty over how long the current ceasefire will hold.

Unsurprisingly, share prices in energy companies have climbed, including Karoon Energy (up 6.2 per cent), Viva Energy (up 4.8 per cent) and Woodside (up 3.1 per cent).

Government considering ‘everything’ to ensure long-term fuel resilience

By Brittany Busch

The energy minister says the government will consider “everything” to ensure Australia’s fuel resilience into the future, including greater electrification and resource extraction.

“We’ll always look at sensible proposals in relation to domestic capability,” Bowen told reporters in Canberra.

“That does include continued efforts on electrification and renewable energy, as well as sensible measures on storage and extraction,” he said.

A bulk carrier sails past an oil refinery in Singapore. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in the major shipping hub last week to discuss securing fuel supplies.Getty

Bowen said some had tried to turn the oil shock into a culture war, but the government was focused on improving resilience.

“But you know, that’s a medium to longer-term priority for the government. At the moment, we’re focused on ensuring we get through this uncertain international environment,” he said.

“We’re not making further announcements today, but obviously … we’ll always look at sensible things in due course to ensure our ongoing resilience.”

Oil shock draws governments towards renewables: Bowen

By Brittany Busch

Bowen says the global oil shock is spurring governments around the world to embrace renewable energy.

“In all my discussions with my international colleagues in energy and climate, there isn’t one country in the world that said, ‘You know what this fuel crisis reminds us, is we need more fossil fuels’,” the climate change and energy minister said.

“That conversation is not being had anywhere around the world. In fact, countries around the world are saying this underpins and underlines the need to keep going with things like electrification and ensuring renewable energy is an important part of the mix going forward.“

He said the immediate priority was ensuring fuel supply, but noted wind and solar could not be sanctioned or impeded.

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Bowen slams opposition for failure to suggest solutions to oil shock

By Brittany Busch

Bowen has attacked the Coalition during his press conference, saying the federal opposition had failed to suggest any constructive solutions to the global oil shock.

“They’ve chosen pot shots over policies, insults over ideas, and sledging over solutions. They’re just playing politics, and that says a lot about them,” Bowen told reporters in Canberra.

“I’ve been dealing with all sorts of proposals to improve fuel supply in Australia. Not one of them has come from the opposition. Have you heard a single constructive suggestion from the opposition on fuel supply? You haven’t.”

Bowen: No fuel supply ships have failed to reach Australia

By Brittany Busch

Bowen says no fuel supply ships that had been expected to arrive in Australia had failed to do so since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.

“Any cancellations of forward orders have been replaced and more,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Bowen also gave a state-by-state breakdown of where fuel shortages remained at service stations.

Fuel shortages, state-by-state

  • NSW: 106 with no diesel, 16 out of all fuel
  • Victoria: 34 with no diesel, 17 with no unleaded
  • Queensland: 36 with no diesel, 20 with no unleaded
  • South Australia: four with no diesel, 17 with no unleaded
  • Western Australia: seven with no diesel, 23 with no unleaded
  • Tasmania: 10 with no diesel, four with no unleaded
  • Northern Territory: four with no diesel, two with no unleaded
  • The ACT: one without diesel and no shortages of unleaded

“That’s 205 across the country, which is 2.6 per cent of Australia’s service stations without any diesels,” Bowen said.

Nation’s diesel stores have increased, says Bowen

By Brittany Busch

Energy Minister Chris Bowen is giving an update on Australia’s fuel stockpiles, saying the nation’s diesel stores have increased by two days’ worth since his last update.

“We have 38 days worth of petrol … we have 28 days worth of jet fuel and 31 days worth of diesel, which is up two days,” Bowen told reporters in Canberra.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Alex Ellinghausen

“As you will notice, these figures haven’t moved around all that much over the last month or so. That’s a good thing. That shows that while fuel is getting out the door at record rates across Australia, fuel is also coming in the door at Australia’s import terminals, and it’s also going out the door at Australia’s two refineries that are working full pelt to ensure that fuel supply is kept up to Australians.”

Bowen said 57 ships were on their way to Australia with various types of fuel, which was “about standard for this time of the year”.

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