The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) on Monday announced the U.S. military will begin enforcing a maritime blockade on Iran from Tuesday (today), as Tehran announced it has once again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
The U.S. blockade, covering all of Iran’s ports, oil terminals and coastal areas, will be enforced for all vessel traffic regardless of flag, read the JMIC’s advisory. “Any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture. Non-compliant vessels may be legally compelled with force,” it added
The center said neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz heading to or from non-Iranian destinations would face no impediments.
Also on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump sent Congress formal notification that hostilities against Iran had resumed on July 7, with his administration claiming this opened a new 60-day window to use the military in the region without congressional approval.
“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ national security and foreign policy interests,” read Trump’s letter, dated July 10. It further outlined Trump’s actions, including ordering a two-week ceasefire on April 7, which was extended, and his administration’s efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Targeting U.S. bases
The U.S. moves follow escalation of hostilities between Iran and the U.S. over the weekend, with both sides exchanging heavy missile and drone assaults, casting significant doubt on the viability of the Memorandum of Understanding inked last month.
Iran’s strikes, per the Reuters news agency, extended to Qatar—which served as mediator for the MoU—as well as the U.A.E, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The U.S. military, likewise, continued strikes against Iran, with Central Command saying these aimed to “continue degrading their [Iran] ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
Tehran’s foreign ministry has condemned “aggressive” U.S. attacks, adding talks between Iran and Oman aimed at managing the strait and transit routes could not reach any result due to “overt and covert” U.S. pressure on Oman.
Qatar, having previously said it would not act as a mediator so long as it was under attack, said three people, including a child, had been injured by falling shrapnel from an Iranian strike. It said Iran was “fully legally responsible” for the attack, adding it reserved the right to respond.
The war triggered by joint U.S.-Israel aerial strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 has destabilized the Gulf, with the Strait’s blockade driving up energy prices, and fueling global inflation.