The US military said it will begin a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, after weekend talks failed to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, jeopardizing a fragile two-week ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the unified command of the Iranian armed forces said the ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman are “either for everyone or for no one”, state broadcaster IRIB reported, according to Al Jazeera.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran consider defending the legal rights of our country a natural and legal duty, and accordingly, exercising the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the territorial waters of our country is the natural right of the Iranian nation,” IRIB cited Iran’s forces as stating.
Al Jazeera reported that the forces’ statement read “Enemy-affiliated vessels” will have the right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while other vessels will be allowed passage, subject to regulations by Tehran.
“The criminal US’s imposition of restrictions on the movement of vessels in international waters is an illegal act and amounts to piracy.” If the security of the ports is threatened, no port in the region “will be safe”, the forces added, as per Al Jazeera.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said he and his advisers were considering resuming limited military strikes on Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
