Washington, April 26: The US military continues to enforce sanctions against Iran, actively intercepting vessels at Iranian ports. This information was shared by US Central Command on social media.
According to a recent post, 37 ships have altered their routes since the blockade began. A commercial vessel named “Seven,” which was stopped by the US military in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, is now returning to Iran under US directives and is being monitored.
On April 12, President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would begin intercepting ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz. This decision followed the first round of US-Iran talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield any peace agreement.
In response to Trump’s decision, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any threat to the security of the Strait of Hormuz would impact global trade.
According to a report from Xinhua News Agency, Iran’s main military command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its stance that if the United States continues its “blockade, looting, and maritime piracy” in the West Asia region, they will retaliate.
Meanwhile, Trump also announced on Saturday that a planned visit by US representatives to Islamabad this weekend has been canceled. He stated on social media that the US is in a strong position and that if Iran wishes to negotiate, it must come forward. He further mentioned that the trip would be a waste of time, given the significant differences and confusion within Iran’s leadership.
Indeed, divisions have emerged within Iran’s leadership between hardline and moderate factions. While the more moderate Araqchi claimed on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open, the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that it had been closed again.
After failed attempts to resume talks in Islamabad, Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely while maintaining the naval blockade on Iran’s ports.
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