US Navy to ‘seek and interdict every vessel’ in Iranian port blockade | US | News
The blockade announcement came after a resolution between the US and Iran was not met. (Image: undefined)
U.S. Central Command is preparing to impose a blockade of all maritime traffic into and out of Iranian ports, covering Iranian ports in both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The official statement made by the US Central Command on Sunday afternoon on X is as follows:
“In accordance with the President’s statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin to blockade all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10:00 local time on April 13.
“The blockade shall be enforced impartially against ships of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not impede the freedom of navigation of ships traveling to and from Iran through the Strait of Hormuz to ports outside Iran.
“Merchant mariners will be provided with additional information via a formal notification prior to the start of the blockade. All sailors are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 as the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz approach.”
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A US blockade could further disrupt global energy markets. “It’s going to be all or nothing, and that’s just the way it is,” Trump told Fox News.
Trump announced on social media that he had instructed the Navy to “search and interdict every ship in International Waters paying tolls to Iran.” “No one who pays illegal tolls will have safe passage on the high seas.”
He said other nations would also be involved but declined to name them.
According to two semi-official Iranian news agencies, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later announced that the strait remained under Iran’s “full control” and was open to non-military ships, while military ships would receive a “strong response”.
Iran and US agree to two-week conditional ceasefire (Image: Getty)
During the 21-hour talks, the US military confirmed that two destroyers passed through the strait before mine-clearing operations, a first since the start of the war.
Trump’s ambition to deploy the Navy to blockade the strait is completely unrealistic and Trump will have to make concessions with Iran, according to Andreas Krieg, senior lecturer in security studies at Kings College London.
“He doesn’t have any tools in his toolbox that he can use to get what he wants in terms of military leverage,” Krieg said.
Trump argued that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions lay at the heart of the breakdown in talks. Speaking to Fox News, he once again threatened to target civilian infrastructure.
Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation, addressed Trump directly upon his return to Iran: “If you fight, we will fight too.”
