Iran’s military says it will stop all exports and imports in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the US keeps up its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The warning came on Wednesday from Ali Abdollahi, head of the military’s central command centre, in a statement carried by Iranian state television.
“If the US continues its blockade and creates insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers, it will constitute a prelude to violating the ceasefire,” Abdollahi said. He went on: “The powerful armed forces of the republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.” Iran, he added, will “act decisively to defend its national sovereignty and its interests.”
The blockade
The blockade began on Monday, after weekend talks in Pakistan between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal to end the war. US Central Command enforces it along a line between Gwadar Bay and Ras al Hadd. On Tuesday CENTCOM said maritime trade to and from Iran had been “completely halted,” and that the blockade applies “impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
By CENTCOM’s count, no ship got past in the first 24 hours. Six vessels followed orders to turn around and go back into an Iranian port.
Ships still moving
Tracking data tells a messier story. About 15 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the 24 hours up to 0900 GMT, and 10 of them were leaving the strait. They included Iranian container ships, a Chinese-owned tanker, a Greek crude oil tanker and a Brazilian bulk carrier. MarineTraffic data also showed US-sanctioned vessels passing through on Tuesday.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, quoting unnamed informed sources, said shipping from the country’s southern ports had carried on. Iranian commercial vessels, it said, had “set sail for various destinations around the world” during the past 24 hours.
Sources
- Iran Threatens To Block Red Sea If US Naval Blockade Continues | Outlook India
- Iran threatens to block Red Sea shipping over US naval blockade
