Iran has warned that no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman will remain safe if its own ports are threatened, as the United States prepares to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas from Monday.
The warning came after the US military announced it would begin blocking vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, in a move aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran following the failure of ceasefire talks. Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guards said regional maritime security must be shared, declaring that “security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for no one,” and that “no port in the region will be safe.”
US Central Command said the blockade would be enforced from 10 am EDT (5:30 pm in Iran) and would apply to vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. However, ships travelling between non-Iranian ports will still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement has already disrupted maritime movement in the region. Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which had partially resumed after the ceasefire, slowed significantly, with just over 40 commercial vessels crossing since the truce, compared to 100–135 daily passages before the conflict.
The move follows high-level US-Iran talks in Pakistan that ended without agreement. US Vice President JD Vance said negotiations stalled after Iran refused to accept American terms, including commitments related to its nuclear program. Iran, in turn, demanded compensation for damages from US-Israeli strikes and the release of its frozen assets.
Iranian officials issued strong warnings of retaliation. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said, “If you fight, we will fight,” while military adviser Mohsen Rezaei said Iran still holds “major untouched levers” to counter a blockade. The Revolutionary Guard added that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran’s control and open to non-military vessels, but warned that military ships could face a forceful response.
The blockade is likely intended to add pressure on Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil since the war began, much of it likely carried by so-called “dark” transits that evade Western government sanctions and oversight.
Trump also hopes to undercut Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz after demanding that it reopen the waterway where 20% of global oil transited before fighting began. A US blockade could further rattle global energy markets.
The blockade is expected to have wide economic implications. Oil prices rose sharply after the announcement, with US crude increasing 8% to $104.24 per barrel and Brent crude rising 7% to $102.29, compared to around $70 before the conflict began.
The escalation comes amid continuing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, with no clarity on what will happen after the current ceasefire expires on April 22.
