The US military has declared that its blockade of Iranian ports has been “fully implemented,” with economic trade entering and leaving Iran by sea “completely halted.” The blockade is being enforced against vessels of all nations “entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran.” According to US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, an estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is fueled by international sea trade, and in less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have entirely stopped economic trade moving into and out of Iran by sea.
CENTCOM stated that more than 10,000 sailors, Marines, and US Air Force personnel are participating in the operation, and in the first 24 hours, six merchant ships complied with US orders to turn around and “re-enter an Iranian port.” The Reuters news agency reported that a US Navy destroyer interdicted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran on Tuesday, a day after the blockade went into effect, instructing them to turn back. The ships had departed Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman and were contacted by the US warship via radio communication, an official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
US President Donald Trump is allegedly hoping the blockade will force officials in Tehran to accept Washington’s terms for ending the US-Israel war on Iran. He announced the blockade after weekend talks broke down between US and Iranian negotiators in Pakistan, which followed a ceasefire announcement that halted attacks. CENTCOM claimed that no ships have made it past the US blockade since it went into effect on Monday at 10:00 am in Washington, DC (14:00 GMT).
Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies in Tehran, said on Wednesday that Iranians believe the US is now hinting at renewed peace talks to ease the shock of the blockade on the global oil market. Oil prices had jumped above $100 per barrel before easing on hopes of further talks between the two sides. Tehran considers the blockade a violation of the ceasefire, and this “can complicate the situation,” Aslani added. “The ceasefire, which is currently in place, is a very fragile one,” he said. “We are waiting to see what will be the reaction from Iran.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com