TEHRAN/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM – A top Iranian military commander warned Wednesday that it would block the imports and exports in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the United States continues its naval blockade against Iran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran’s main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the remarks while condemning the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz to prevent ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway.
If the United States “seeks to continue its illegal move of imposing the naval blockade in the region and cause insecurity for Iranian commercial ships and oil tankers, the action will be a prelude to violating the ceasefire, and Iran’s powerful armed forces will not let any exports and imports continue in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea”, Abdollahi said.
He added that Iran will take strong actions to defend its national sovereignty and interests.
The United States imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz to prevent ships from accessing Iranian ports, which took effect after the failure of the Iran-US peace talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad late last week.
The peace talks were held Saturday and early Sunday, following a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel that took effect on April 8.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage by vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command said a US Navy guided-missile destroyer has intercepted and redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the US blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline,” the command said on X. “The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran.”
Ten vessels have been turned around so far, with no ships having broken through the strait since the start of the US blockade on Monday, the command said.
Pentagon sends more troops to ME
In another development, the Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops into the Middle East in the coming days, as Washington and Tehran are trying to resume talks and reach a deal to end the conflict, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The Trump administration is considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if a fragile ceasefire does not hold, according to the report, citing US officials.
The forces moving into the region include about 6,000 troops aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and its accompanying warships. They departed Naval Station Norfolk in the US state of Virginia in late March for the Middle East, according to a US Navy press release at the time.
About 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month, according to the Wednesday report.
Extension of ceasefire
Also on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said an extension of the current US ceasefire with Iran is “not true at this moment”.
Leavitt said at a White House press briefing that the Trump administration is optimistic the continued negotiations could yield a deal to end the weeks-long conflict.
“We feel good about the prospects of a deal,” she said.
Leavitt also did not confirm when talks with Iran would resume, but said if there were talks, they would continue to be held in Pakistan following stalled talks in Islamabad over the weekend.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Iran does not confirm any agreement with the US on extending the truce, according to media reports.
Baghaei also said that no specific dates have been set yet for a new round of US-Iran talks, but added that a Pakistani delegation may visit Iran on Wednesday to further discuss the negotiation process with the United States.
He said Iran considers it possible to discuss parameters of uranium enrichment with the United States, but insists on its right to use nuclear energy.
‘Israel ready’ to resume fighting
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces are “prepared for any scenario” should fighting with Iran resume.
Netanyahu said US allies are providing Israel “constant updates” on diplomatic contacts with Iran. He added that the goals of both countries remain identical, including the removal of enriched material, eliminating Iran’s enrichment capabilities, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“In preparation for the possibility that the fighting will be resumed, we are prepared for any scenario,” he said.