The United States military has announced plans to commence a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, following the collapse of high-stakes negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan.
The development marks a sharp escalation in tensions, with US President Donald Trump blaming Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions for the breakdown in talks.
Trump disclosed on social media that the US would enforce a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, after his Vice President, JD Vance, withdrew from negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad on Sunday.
themomentng reports that the failure of the negotiations has dashed global hopes of ending the war, which has reportedly claimed thousands of lives and disrupted the global economy since it erupted in late February.
Although Pakistan, which mediated the talks, pledged to continue facilitating dialogue, it urged both sides to respect the fragile two-week ceasefire agreed upon last week.
Analysts, however, warned that the proposed maritime blockade could undermine the truce.
…US Outlines Scope Of Blockade
In a statement, the US Central Command said the blockade would take effect at 1400 GMT on Monday.
“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,” AFP quoted the statement as saying.
It clarified that US forces would not obstruct vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Trump, confirming the move on his Truth Social platform, struck a more aggressive tone.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
…Iran Fires Back, Rejects US Threats
Iran reacted swiftly, rejecting the US move and issuing strong warnings.
Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran would “not bow to any threats,” while navy chief Shahram Irani described Trump’s blockade threat as “ridiculous.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had earlier warned that they maintained full control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and could trap any aggressor “in a deadly vortex.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused the US of frustrating a near-agreement.
He cited “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and (a) blockade” as factors that derailed talks, which he claimed were “just inches away” from success.
Global oil markets reacted sharply to the escalation, with prices jumping by about eight per cent on Monday.
Both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) reportedly surged past $100 per barrel, reversing last week’s decline following the temporary ceasefire.
