Iran's Ultimatum to the US over Hormuz Strait Blockade, Threatens to Close Red Sea

Iran’s military has warned that it will block trade routes through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and the Sea of Oman. This follows the United States Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports. The head of Iran’s Military Command Centre, Ali Abdollahi, as reported by AFP news agency on Wednesday (15/4/2026), said that the US has violated the ceasefire by continuing the blockade and creating insecurity for Iranian commercial ships and oil tankers. “The strong armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Red Sea,” said Ali Abdollahi. He added that Iran will act decisively to defend national sovereignty and its interests. The United States is known to have imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since Monday. This was done after talks between the US and Iran last weekend in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement to end the war. However, existing data shows that some ships sailing from Iranian ports have crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite the blockade. On Wednesday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that shipments from southern Iranian ports continue. Iranian commercial ships were also reported to have sailed to various destinations around the world over the past 24 hours.