By Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
The U.S. military says it will begin enforcing a sweeping maritime blockade on all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports, a move that has drawn a sharp warning from Iran, which vowed a “strong and forceful response” if its territorial waters are challenged.
According to U.S. Central Command (U.S. Central Command), the blockade will take effect April 13 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, in accordance with what it described as a presidential proclamation. The directive states that all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports will be subject to interdiction, regardless of national flag.
The order applies to Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, but officials emphasized that it will not interfere with commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian destinations.
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
It added that commercial mariners would receive additional guidance through formal Notices to Mariners ahead of implementation, and urged ships operating in the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor bridge-to-bridge communications.
The announcement follows earlier remarks attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States would halt “any and all ships trying to enter, or leave” Iranian waters until oil shipments can flow freely without obstruction.
In response, Iran sharply condemned the move and warned that any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as a violation of a fragile cease-fire agreement.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy) said it retains “full control” over the strategic waterway and insisted that it remains open to commercial shipping under Iranian oversight.
“Contrary to the false claims of certain enemy officials, the Strait of Hormuz is open for the passage of non-military vessels under smart control and management,” the force said in a statement carried by semi-official Iranian news agencies.
Iran further warned that any escalation near the waterway would be met with a “strong and forceful response,” escalating tensions over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
The Strait of Hormuz (Strait of Hormuz), through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass, has long been a flashpoint in regional disputes involving Iran and Western naval forces.
The developments mark a sharp escalation in maritime tensions in the region, with global shipping operators expected to closely monitor security conditions in the coming days.
