Iranian Military Warns: "All Imports and Exports Through Red Sea and Gulf of Oman Will Be Blocked if U.S. Blockade Continues" (Update)

Yonhap News Agency

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On April 15 (local time), Iran warned that it would blockade the Red Sea if the United States continues its maritime blockade. This marks the first time the Iranian military has officially mentioned the possibility of further blockading major maritime trade routes such as the Red Sea in response to the U.S. maritime blockade.

According to Iran's state-run IRIB broadcaster, Major General Ali Abdollahi of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which commands Iran's armed forces, issued a statement criticizing, "The aggressive and terrorist United States is continuing its illegal maritime blockade and threatening the safety of Iranian merchant ships and oil tankers."

He stressed, "Such actions by the United States could amount to a violation of the ceasefire agreement," and emphasized, "If the U.S. blockade continues, we will respond with a strong military response."

In particular, Major General Abdollahi threatened, "Iran's powerful military will not tolerate any import or export activities passing through the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, or the Red Sea." He added, "Iran will mobilize all means and act decisively to safeguard its national sovereignty and interests."

This hardline stance from the Iranian military comes at a time when the possibility of a second round of negotiations with the United States could emerge as early as this week, and may be a strategy to increase its bargaining power.

Experts have expressed concern that if the United States blockades Iranian ports through its maritime blockade, the Houthi rebels of Yemen-members of the so-called 'Axis of Resistance'-could disrupt passage through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea.

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