The U.S. maritime blockade against Iran has officially commenced at 10 a.m. local time, with over 15 U.S. warships participating in the support operation. According to U.S. officials and military sources, American forces currently deployed in the Middle East include aircraft carriers, several missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and other vessels capable of carrying out tasks such as helicopter boarding inspections, guiding merchant ships onto alternative routes, and controlling maritime traffic. Retired U.S. military generals noted that such blockades typically unfold gradually outside the Strait of Hormuz to minimize threats from Iranian firepower, but their actual economic and military impact takes time to materialize. The report indicates that this blockade aims to cut off Iran’s port and coastal trade routes as a response to Iran's previous blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, yet it also signifies that a high-risk, potentially escalating military confrontation has now entered its implementation phase. On the same day, Trump warned Iran not to test the blockade measures, stating that any non-compliant Iranian vessels would be “immediately eliminated.” U.S. authorities have also issued notices stating that ships violating the blockade could face interception, rerouting, and seizure. In response, Iran has taken a firm stance, with a military spokesperson warning that if Iran’s port security is threatened, no ports in the Persian Gulf or the Oman Sea would be safe. Meanwhile, the report also notes that U.S. allies so far have shown cautious attitudes toward joining the blockade operation, unwilling to actively respond to Washington’s expectations, which adds further complexity to the diplomatic and market impacts beyond military execution.
Image sourced from the internet
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862412461906186/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author