US Central Command Announces Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports Starting Monday

WASHINGTON (Afghan Verified) -- The US Central Command announced Saturday a naval blockade on all Iranian ports starting Monday at 10:00 a.m. ET (14:00 GMT), affecting all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM clarified that the blockade will not interfere with freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for ships traveling to or from non-Iranian ports. The measure is narrower in scope than President Donald Trump's earlier suggestion of a broader blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement follows the collapse of talks in Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US altered key terms during the negotiations. Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf stated the US failed to build trust. US Vice President JD Vance said the 21-hour talks ended without agreement and would be more detrimental to Iran.

Tensions have escalated since US-Israel military operations against Iran on February 28. Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, reducing traffic that carries 20 percent of the world's oil and LNG. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that US vessels entering the blockaded areas would violate a ceasefire in place until April 22 and face a response.

Global oil prices surged following the announcement, with US crude rising 8 percent to $104.24 per barrel and Brent crude up 7 percent to $102.29 per barrel.