Arabic version: الجيش الأمريكي سيبدأ حصار الموانئ الإيرانية اعتبارًا من يوم الاثنين

The US military has said it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports at 14:00 GMT on Monday after President Donald Trump announced the naval blocking of the Strait of Hormuz through which a fifth of global crude supply normally passes. This decision comes after talks for a long-term peace plan ended on Saturday without a deal. According to Al Jazeera, the blockade is expected to disrupt maritime traffic significantly.

In response to the blockade announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards warned that military vessels approaching the strait would be considered a ceasefire breach and dealt with harshly and decisively, underlining the risk of a dangerous escalation. They emphasized that Iranian security forces had full control over the Strait of Hormuz and threatened severe consequences for any perceived aggression. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, criticized the US approach, describing it as maximalist and counterproductive.

The US military’s Central Command has stated that the blockade will stop all vessels, from any nation, from passing through the Strait of Hormuz if they are sailing to or from Iran, while allowing passage for those heading to non-Iranian ports. President Trump further stated that US forces would intercept every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran, asserting that no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage.

The geopolitical situation remains tense as Israeli military operations continue in Lebanon, with recent airstrikes reported in southern regions. Hezbollah has retaliated with rocket attacks, further complicating the regional dynamics. Meanwhile, oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding global energy supplies following the blockade announcement. Asian markets reacted negatively, with significant declines observed in major stock indices as fears of prolonged conflict grow.