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Rabat – The US has announced it will begin blocking all ships entering and leaving Iranian ports today. The move comes less than a week after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, putting an end to more than a month of intense fighting.
But recent talks between Washington and Tehran failed to produce any agreement, which pushed tensions to a new high.
US President Donald Trump said the blockade would take effect at 10 am ET (2 pm GMT) on Monday.
Iran quickly condemned the decision. The country’s armed forces called the blockade “illegal” and described it as an act of “piracy.” Officials warned that if Iran’s ports are threatened, other ports in the region may also become unsafe.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran consider defending the legal rights of our country a natural and legal duty, and accordingly, exercising the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the territorial waters of our country is the natural right of the Iranian nation,” state broadcaster IRIB cited Iran’s forces as stating.
The statement warned that if the security of the ports is threatened, no port in the region “will be safe.”
At the center of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. About one-fifth of the global oil supply passes through this narrow waterway. Any disruption there can quickly impact global energy markets, which the world already felt after Iran blocked ships through the Strait of Hormuz during the war.
Following the US announcement, shipping traffic in the strait has already slowed sharply, with some vessels turning back due to safety concerns. Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel, and markets in Asia opened lower amid fears of prolonged instability.
Despite heavy sanctions since 1979, Iran’s economy has shown resilience, largely due to continued oil exports through the Strait. Analysts say the country has even increased its revenues in recent weeks by charging higher prices and imposing transit-related costs on ships.
However, experts warn that the consequences of the blockade may be felt more quickly outside Iran than within it. A prolonged disruption could damage the global economy, including driving up fuel prices and affecting trade worldwide.
Meanwhile, key US allies, including the UK, have signaled they do not support the blockade, instead calling for de-escalation and renewed negotiations.
