The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed this Wednesday that U.S. warships are patrolling the Gulf of Oman to enforce the formal naval blockade imposed against all Iranian ports.
The blockade was ordered by President Donald Trump through a presidential proclamation on Sunday, April 12, following the collapse of nearly 20 hours of peace negotiations in Islamabad regarding the Iranian nuclear program, and took effect the next day, Monday at 10:00 am Eastern Time.
CENTCOM published on the social network X a message directed to all ship captains in the area: "Do not attempt to breach the blockade. Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and confiscation if they are traveling to or from an Iranian port. Turn back or prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The entire United States Navy is ready to enforce compliance."
For its part, the White House stated that the operation is "fully implemented".
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, stated that within 36 hours of implementation, U.S. forces have completely halted the economic maritime trade in and out of Iran by sea.
The operation involves over a dozen warships, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 10,000 sailors, Marines, and aviators.
In the first 48 hours, no vessel managed to break the blockade: nine merchant ships were ordered to turn back and at least eight tankers complied with U.S. directives without the need for boarding.
The economic impact on Iran is severe. According to CENTCOM, 90% of the Iranian economy relies on international maritime trade, and the country is facing estimated losses of up to $435 million daily. The price of oil has risen to $104.24 per barrel.
Tehran threatened to disrupt trade routes in the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea if the blockade continues, and is seeking alternative ports in the south of the country to evade the operation.
The blockade is part of Operation Epic Fury, a joint offensive between the United States and Israel that began on February 28, which destroyed nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, as well as more than 900 military targets and 158 ships of the Iranian Navy.
In parallel to the military pressure, Trump announced a diplomatic agreement with China this Wednesday: President Xi Jinping committed, through a letter, not to send weapons to Iran in exchange for the United States keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, a vital route through which 20% of the world's oil passes.
"China is very happy that the Strait of Hormuz is opening permanently," Trump declared in an interview with Fox Business Network.
Negotiations with Iran are ongoing: Washington demands a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, while Tehran proposes only five years. Trump stated that the war "is close to ending".
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