US Military to Enforce Blockade in Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea

The U.S. military will enforce a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz and it will apply to all vessel traffic regardless of flag, the U.S. Central Command said in a note to seafarers on Monday. The note said the blockade would come into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday.

“Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture,” the note said. “The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations.”

Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said on Monday that Iran has “good contact” with the Indian government on passage of the South Asian nation’s ships through the Strait of Hormuz and wants to help New Delhi. Reuters