US Central Command (CENTCOM) will begin enforcing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, according to an official announcement issued in conjunction with the presidential announcement.
The law applies to all ships, regardless of flag or ownership, operating in Iran’s coastal waters, including ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
US Establishes Blockade on Iranian Ports as CENTCOM Announces Maritime Spillage
However, CENTCOM emphasized that the measure will not impede the movement of naval vessels across the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports, an important distinction aimed at maintaining global influence.
“The blockade will be imposed indiscriminately against the ships of all countries entering or leaving Iran’s ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM. to explain.
Officials said the process would be conducted in a non-discriminatory way and that merchant mariners would receive additional guidance through official “Notice to Mariners” messages ahead of the launch.
Ships operating in the Gulf of Oman and in the Strait of Hormuz are advised to monitor marine radios and communicate with the US Navy on bridge-to-bridge VHF channel 16.
The move marks a major escalation in Iran’s maritime tensions amid ongoing tensions in the region that have already disrupted shipping lines and exacerbated instability in the global energy market.
Analysts note that even if the Strait of Hormuz remains open, blocking access to Iranian ports could exacerbate Tehran’s economic problems.
CENTCOM did not elaborate on the duration of the shutdown but indicated that further changes will be made as the situation in the region evolves.
Ship operators and energy traders are expected to keep a close eye on the situation as reinforcements begin, and assess maritime risks that need to be remedied in real time.
Insurance premiums for goods bound for the Gulf may also fluctuate depending on the extent of the pressure and any response by Iran.
With the situation still in place, governments and commercial vessels are awaiting further clarification from the US Navy in the coming hours and days before the start date.
“Enjoy these pump numbers. It’s what’s called ‘blocking’, Soon you won’t be thinking about $4–$5 gas,” he wrote Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
A note Trump Moves to Choke Iran’s Ports Without Shutting Down Global Oil Route, CENTCOM Confirms appeared for the first time BeInCrypto.
