Iran warned on Wednesday that it will not allow any type of export or import in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea if the United States continues its “illegal” naval blockade of Iranian commercial and oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. “If the aggressor and terrorist United States intends to continue its illegal naval blockade (...), the powerful Armed Forces of Iran will not allow the continuation of any type of export or import in the region of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea,” warned the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Major General Ali Abdollahi, according to Tasnim news agency. Abdollahi stated that any attempt by Washington to maintain the maritime siege in the region would, in practice, constitute a violation of the two-week ceasefire agreed with the U.S., which came into effect last Wednesday. Response to the U.S. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that it has begun to block Iran's ports, as well as having “completely paralyzed” trade that “enters and leaves” the Persian country by sea, which continues today for the second day. Iran's Revolutionary Guard had already warned, two days before the U.S. blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, that military ships approaching the area would be “subject to a forceful response.” The passage of ships and tankers through this maritime route, through which 20% of the world's oil trade passes, has been restricted by Tehran since the beginning of the war on February 28, which has caused a sharp increase in crude oil prices worldwide.
