Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced Wednesday that Tehran would not allow the import or export of goods through the Persian Gulf, the nearby Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea unless the United States lifts the blockade it imposed earlier this week around the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya emergency headquarters, said the measures would be “firm and decisive” steps to protect Iran’s national interests and sovereignty.
Iran does not border the Red Sea, and the threat to disrupt shipping there appeared to signal that Tehran could seek to reactivate Yemen’s Houthi rebels, its regional allies, to attack maritime traffic. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the war that followed, the Houthis have attacked merchant ships and oil tankers they said were linked to Israel. The campaign sharply raised insurance costs and forced some shipping companies to reroute vessels along longer, more expensive paths, driving up the cost of goods. A return to that pattern could further jolt global commodity markets.
Iran’s threat came amid progress in mediation efforts aimed at extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which is due to expire on April 22, two weeks after it took effect. Regional officials told the AP that mediators were seeking to extend the truce by at least another two weeks to give diplomacy more time, and that both sides had given “in principle” approval to an extension.
One official involved in the mediation effort told the AP that negotiators were trying to bridge differences on the three main disputes between Washington and Tehran: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s demand for compensation for damage caused during the war.
As preparations continued for another round of talks that could begin as soon as Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that he believed the war with Iran could end very soon. Trump also said he had sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping asking China not to provide weapons to Tehran, and said Xi responded that China was not supplying such weapons. Trump did not say when the exchange took place. His remarks came after he threatened last week to impose 50% tariffs on any country that supplies arms to Iran.
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Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya emergency headquarters, said the measures would be “firm and decisive” steps to protect Iran’s national interests and sovereignty.
Iran does not border the Red Sea, and the threat to disrupt shipping there appeared to signal that Tehran could seek to reactivate Yemen’s Houthi rebels, its regional allies, to attack maritime traffic. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the war that followed, the Houthis have attacked merchant ships and oil tankers they said were linked to Israel. The campaign sharply raised insurance costs and forced some shipping companies to reroute vessels along longer, more expensive paths, driving up the cost of goods. A return to that pattern could further jolt global commodity markets.
Iran’s threat came amid progress in mediation efforts aimed at extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which is due to expire on April 22, two weeks after it took effect. Regional officials told the AP that mediators were seeking to extend the truce by at least another two weeks to give diplomacy more time, and that both sides had given “in principle” approval to an extension.
One official involved in the mediation effort told the AP that negotiators were trying to bridge differences on the three main disputes between Washington and Tehran: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s demand for compensation for damage caused during the war.
As preparations continued for another round of talks that could begin as soon as Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that he believed the war with Iran could end very soon. Trump also said he had sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping asking China not to provide weapons to Tehran, and said Xi responded that China was not supplying such weapons. Trump did not say when the exchange took place. His remarks came after he threatened last week to impose 50% tariffs on any country that supplies arms to Iran.
Iran threatens to disrupt shipping in Red Sea unless US lifts Hormuz blockade
Revolutionary Guard warns Tehran will block trade through the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Red Sea as mediators push to extend the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, regional tensions rise and Gulf states move to contain the fallout
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