CENTCOM announces resumption of naval blockade on Iran starting Tuesday evening

Washington, July 13 (KUNA) — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that it will resume a blockade on Iranian ports tomorrow evening, in accordance with directives from U.S. President Donald Trump. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, CENTCOM said, “In accordance with the directives of the Commander-in-Chief (U.S. President Donald Trump), U.S. Central Command forces will resume imposing a blockade on maritime navigation entering and leaving Iranian ports.” It clarified that the blockade will be reinstated on July 14 (tomorrow, Tuesday) at 4:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. CENTCOM noted that its forces “will enforce the blockade on vessels heading to Iranian ports and coastal areas or departing from them.” It added that “U.S. military forces will support the free flow of navigation through the territorial waters of all vessels that do not violate the blockade.” The command recalled that the resumption of the blockade follows an initial implementation phase that ran from April 13 to June 18, during which CENTCOM forces, over a two-month period, directed the course of more than 140 compliant vessels, detained nine non-compliant vessels, and allowed the passage of more than 50 commercial ships carrying humanitarian aid through the blockade zone. All mariners were advised to “monitor Broadcast Notice to Mariners and contact U.S. Navy forces via Channel 16, designated for direct ship-to-ship communication when navigating the Gulf of Oman and areas leading to the Strait of Hormuz.” Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through an official notice. Earlier today, President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social post that he had decided to reimpose a “blockade” on Iranian ports while the United States protects shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian attacks on transiting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz resumed last week, and CENTCOM has conducted several rounds of strikes against targets in Iran. The U.S. president also officially announced the end of the ceasefire agreed upon in a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding last month, which was intended to last for 60 days pending a broader agreement between the two countries. (End) R.S.R. / M.A.H.A.