(Digital Itla) The United States re-implemented a naval blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday night. According to U.S. Central Command, the naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports was re-enforced at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
The U.S. had previously enforced such a blockade between April and June. The U.S. military states that 21 warships and hundreds of aircraft are currently operating in the Middle East.
According to CENTCOM, these vessels will attempt to block Iran's maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz and will turn back any ship found to have any connection with Iran. However, this is a complex situation, which is why this blockade differs from previous naval blockades. The U.S. stated it will also provide protection to ships passing through Omani routes in the Strait of Hormuz. This means the U.S. will have to strengthen its naval operations and logistics further; on one hand, it must protect those vessels and escort them safely through U.S.-approved routes if necessary, while on the other hand, separate warships must be deployed to blockade Iran-approved routes.
Following the re-enforcement of the naval blockade on all Iranian ports by the U.S. and Iran's subsequent retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases in the region, oil prices recorded an increase in the global market on Wednesday morning. The price of global benchmark Brent crude rose by $1.46 (1.72%) to reach $86.19 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price increased by $1.11 (1.4%) to settle at $80.40 per barrel.
Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, stating that the U.S. is targeting Iranian bases to hide its defeat and that American claims of targeting ships passing through the vital waterway are baseless. The IRGC added that no ship has attempted to violate the Iranian blockade, and since no violations occurred, no attacks were carried out.
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