Iran Warns To Block Red Sea, Gulf And Sea Of Oman If US Naval Blockade Continues

Iran’s military on Wednesday warned that it would block trade routes across the Red Sea, the Gulf, and the Sea of Oman if the United States continues its naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In a statement broadcast by Iranian state television, the head of the military’s central command centre said continued US restrictions and any attempt to “create insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers” would amount to “a prelude” to violating the ceasefire framework.

“The powerful armed forces of the Islamic republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,” said Ali Abdollahi, adding that Iran would “act decisively to defend its national sovereignty and its interests.”

The US has

maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports since Monday, following failed negotiations with Tehran over the weekend in Pakistan aimed at ending the ongoing war. Washington has said the move is intended to restrict Iran’s maritime trade and economic activity.

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Despite the blockade, maritime tracking data on Tuesday suggested that several ships departing Iranian ports managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing unnamed sources, said shipping activity from southern Iranian ports had continued uninterrupted.

It added that Iranian commercial vessels had “set sail for various destinations around the world” over the past 24 hours.

The latest military warning also comes amid continued diplomatic exchanges between Tehran and Washington through Pakistan. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said messages had been exchanged since the breakdown of talks, and that a Pakistani delegation was likely to arrive in Tehran as part of ongoing discussions.

The US-Iran negotiations, held in Pakistan over the weekend, lasted around 21 hours but failed to produce a breakthrough. The talks took place against the backdrop of a fragile two-week ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has criticised Iran for failing to open the Strait of Hormuz and for not agreeing to concessions on its nuclear programme.

(With inputs from AFP)