The US military announced a blockade of maritime traffic at Iranian ports. Iran denounced the move as absurd. The UK made it clear that it would not participate.

US Military Announces Blockade of Iranian Port Maritime Traffic; Iran Calls It Absurd, UK Says It Will Not Participate

April 13 News: The U.S. Central Command recently announced that it will impose a blockade on maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports. This move has been strongly refuted by Iran, while the UK has clearly stated that it will not participate in the relevant blockade operation. The statements from various parties have kept the situation around the Strait of Hormuz escalating.

US Military Announces Blockade of Iranian Port Maritime Traffic Starting April 13

On April 12 local time, the U.S. Central Command issued a statement saying that in accordance with a presidential announcement, its forces will impose a blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13.

The statement clarified that the blockade will apply equally to ships of all countries entering and exiting Iranian ports and their coastal areas, covering all Iranian ports located in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. At the same time, the U.S. Central Command added that it will not hinder ships traveling to and from non-Iranian ports from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and will provide more relevant information to commercial mariners through official announcements before the blockade begins.

Iranian Naval Commander Refutes: The Blockade Is "Absurd and Ridiculous"

In response to the U.S. military's blockade threat, Iran has made a strong response. According to a report by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on April 12, Iranian Naval Commander Shahram Irani stated that the U.S. threat to impose a maritime blockade on Iran is "an extremely absurd and ridiculous act."

Irani emphasized that the officers and soldiers of the Iranian Army and Navy are fully tracking and monitoring all movements of the U.S. military in the region, demonstrating Iran's firm attitude in responding to external threats. It is reported that Irani has always adhered to a tough stance for a long time, and has repeatedly stated that Iran will not submit to U.S. hegemonic behavior, and that U.S. blockade measures have never succeeded in the past and will not work in the future.

UK Clearly States: Will Not Participate in the Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

On April 12, multiple British media reported that the British government has clearly stated that it will not participate in the blockade operation of the Strait of Hormuz.

Citing a government spokesperson, Sky News reported that the UK will continue to support the restoration of unimpeded navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the strait should not become a toll passage. At the same time, the UK is cooperating with France and other countries to form a relevant alliance to safeguard the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

It is reported that earlier that day, U.S. President Trump had threatened on social media that in view of Iran's refusal to make concessions on the key issue of its nuclear program, the U.S. Navy would immediately start blocking the Strait of Hormuz. However, the UK's statement clearly distanced itself from the U.S. position.

Background Supplement

The U.S. military's announcement of the blockade of Iranian ports stems from the fruitless conclusion of recent negotiations between the U.S. and Iran held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The two sides have serious differences on core issues such as the control of the Strait of Hormuz, enriched uranium stockpiles, and overseas frozen funds, and no agreement was reached in the negotiations. Subsequently, the U.S. took the lead in issuing a blockade threat, and Iran responded with strong countermeasures, further escalating the confrontation between the two sides in the Strait of Hormuz.

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