The US armed forces will impose a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz and it will apply to all ship traffic, regardless of flag, the US Central Command said in a note to crews, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The document states that the blockade will take effect today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern US time (17:00 Bulgarian time).
“Any ship entering or leaving the blocked area without permission is subject to interception, diversion and seizure“, the note says. It specifies that “the blockade will not impede neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz to or from destinations outside Iran.“
The blockade “covers the entire Iranian coastline, including, but not limited to, ports and oil terminals“, the document said, adding that humanitarian shipments, including “food, medical supplies and other essential goods“, will be allowed after inspection.
Tehran threatened retaliation against its Gulf neighbors' ports after weekend talks with Washington in Islamabad failed to produce a ceasefire agreement, putting the ceasefire in question.