Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 14: The United States has announced that it will resume a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports from the evening of Jul 14 (US local time), while Iran has warned against any American interference in the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces will enforce the blockade on vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while continuing to facilitate the safe passage of ships that are not covered by the order.
"At the Commander in Chief's direction, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET," the statement said.
CENTCOM said the move follows an earlier blockade that it claimed was implemented from Apr 13 to Jun 18. During that period, it said US forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships and allowed over 50 commercial vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass through.
The command advised all mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor official Notice to Mariners broadcasts and establish communication with US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge Channel 16. It added that detailed guidance for commercial shipping would be issued separately.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions following recent hostilities between the United States and Iran.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the United States was "reinstating" the Iranian blockade and announced that Washington would impose a 20 per cent charge for providing security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Trump said international shipping through the waterway would remain open to all countries except vessels linked to Iran.
"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump wrote. "We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."
Trump defended the proposed 20 per cent levy on cargo passing through the strait, saying it was necessary to cover the costs of maintaining security in one of the world's most sensitive maritime corridors.
In response, Iran rejected the US move and reiterated that it would not permit foreign interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state media, Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iran would not "under any circumstances" allow the United States to interfere in the management of the strategic waterway.
He also warned that Iran would respond firmly to any US military action involving commercial vessels or oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz outside Iran's designated shipping routes and without the authorisation of its armed forces.