The U.S. Central Command has officially announced: starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13, it will implement partial blockades of the Strait of Hormuz — targeting only vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, covering both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; other passing vessels will retain freedom of navigation ????.
This is an unverified report thus far. If it were to actually occur, it would represent an extremely serious military escalation, as the Strait of Hormuz is the global chokepoint for oil transportation. Unilaterally "blocking" vessels entering or leaving Iran effectively constitutes a partial blockade of the strait, which amounts to acts of war.
Imposing maritime blockades on specific countries during peacetime is generally regarded as military action—or even an act of war—rather than ordinary shipping regulation. While the U.S. might self-define this move as "enforcement of sanctions" or "defensive interdiction," it will inevitably face strong opposition from Iran and the majority of the international community.
If such actions indeed take place, Iran is most likely to respond asymmetrically, including: deploying fast attack craft, drones, and shore-based anti-ship missiles to harass or attack U.S. naval vessels; laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz (causing global shipping panic); detaining or attacking commercial ships passing through the strait linked to the U.S., UK, or Israel; or even directly striking U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Iran will absolutely not accept such a "partial blockade."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862302629803008/
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