The United States military has declared a full maritime blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas, set to begin Monday at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). The move follows the collapse of high-level negotiations in Islamabad, which failed to secure a permanent end to the six-week war and has placed a fragile two-week ceasefire in immediate jeopardy.
The Islamabad talks marked the first direct diplomatic meeting between Washington and Tehran in over a decade. However, the inability to reach a balanced agreement has triggered a swift return to hostilities. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the blockade will be enforced against all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, regardless of nationality.
While the blockade specifically targets Iranian maritime traffic, U.S. officials clarified that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded. President Donald Trump stated that U.S. forces will intercept any vessel in international waters that has paid tolls to Iran, calling such payments illegal. Simultaneously, the U.S. Navy is preparing to destroy Iranian mines within the Strait to ensure safe passage for neutral commercial traffic.
The announcement sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Benchmark crude oil prices surged more than 7%, surpassing $100 per barrel, while U.S. stock futures fell and the dollar strengthened during Monday morning trade in Asia.
Tehran responded with a warning of harsh retaliation, accusing Washington of “maximalism” during the failed Islamabad negotiations. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the U.S. decision undermines regional stability and violates international norms.
Despite the escalating tensions, President Trump suggested that Iran might eventually return to the bargaining table, though he cautioned that high energy prices could persist through the U.S. midterm elections. Analysts have raised concerns about the long-term feasibility of maintaining such a large-scale maritime operation, noting that sustaining independent enforcement over several months could strain U.S. resources.
As commercial tankers begin to avoid the waterway, the international community remains on high alert for a potential expansion of the regional conflict.
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