The United States will begin a blockade of all ships traveling both to and from Iranian ports on Monday, U.S. Central Command announced.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The blockade “will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas” and extends to all of Iran’s ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
Notably, the U.S.’s action “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” CENTCOM added.
The announcement comes hours after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would soon begin implementing a separate blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace negotiations failed on Saturday.
TRUMP TO IMPOSE NAVAL BLOCKADE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ TO STOP IRANIAN ‘WORLD EXTORTION’
That would apply to “all Ships trying to enter, or leave” the vital strait, Trump said.
The president also said the U.S. Navy would “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran” and begin destroying mines that Iran placed in the strait.