Kamal Ghorui
The US military has announced it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT (April 13), while allowing vessels not bound for Iran to continue transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X on Sunday.“CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” it added, appearing to soften President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks in which he said “any and all Ships” would be blocked.The move follows Trump’s order for a sweeping naval blockade after nearly 20 hours of talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough. The US president accused Iran of refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions despite what he described as largely productive negotiations.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the talks “went well” and that “most points were agreed to,” but insisted Tehran remained “unyielding as to the single most important issue,” declaring: “IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!”Trump said he had been “fully debriefed” by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner after the Pakistan-facilitated talks.He also accused Iran of backtracking on assurances to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, warning the situation had caused “anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World.”“They say they put mines in the water,” Trump wrote, adding that uncertainty had already deterred global shipping. “What ship owner would want to take the chance?”Calling the situation “WORLD EXTORTION,” Trump said the US would respond with immediate and forceful measures.“Effective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.He added that US forces would “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” warning that “no one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”Trump also said US naval units would begin clearing mines allegedly laid by Iran and issued a stark warning: “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”He said the blockade would remain in place until free navigation is restored, calling the current situation a violation of international norms.At the same time, Trump signalled a possible off-ramp, saying that “at some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis,” while blaming Iran for preventing such an outcome.
