The United States will resume enforcing a maritime blockade on Iran from Tuesday, targeting all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate over the Strait of Hormuz.The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said the blockade will come into effect at 2000 GMT (4 pm ET) on July 14 and will apply to all vessel traffic “regardless of flag”, covering Iran’s ports, oil terminals and coastal areas.“Any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture. Non-compliant vessels may be legally compelled with force,” the advisory said.However, the JMIC clarified that neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations would not be affected.
Centcom confirms resumption of blockade
US Central Command (Centcom) later confirmed that, at President Donald Trump’s direction, American forces would resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.“Centcom forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The US military continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade,” it said in a statement.The military said the renewed operation follows the previous blockade imposed between April 13 and June 18, during which US forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships and allowed over 50 humanitarian cargo vessels to pass.Commercial mariners have been advised to monitor official navigation notices and contact US naval forces while operating in the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.According to CNN, the US currently has 19 Navy ships deployed in the northern Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and more than 10 destroyers.
Trump announces cargo charges, Iran pushes back
Earlier on Monday, President Trump announced that the United States would reinstate what he called “the Iranian blockade” and position itself as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz.“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” Trump wrote on social media, according to AP.“All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”He also said commercial shippers would be charged 20% of the value of their cargo to reimburse the US for “providing safety and security” in the strategic waterway.The proposal marks a reversal from the longstanding US position that the strait should remain open to all vessels without transit fees.Secretary of state Marco Rubio had argued only weeks ago that there was “zero support” for tolls on passage through the international waterway.Iran reacted sharply to the announcement, accusing Washington of undermining regional stability.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi mocked Trump’s proposal in a post on X.“POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service,” he wrote.“Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”The International Maritime Organisation has also reiterated that there is “no legal basis” for imposing mandatory tolls on vessels transiting an international strait.
Strait of Hormuz remains flashpoint
The renewed blockade comes after days of military escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies moved before the conflict disrupted shipping.Washington had lifted its earlier blockade as part of an interim peace agreement reached last month, which also envisaged the full reopening of the waterway. However, repeated attacks on commercial vessels have cast doubt on that arrangement.The US says the blockade is intended to protect commercial shipping following Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait, while Tehran maintains it has the right to manage traffic through the strategic chokepoint.
