Trump warns Iran: Any vessel violating the maritime blockade will be immediately destroyed

¬ Netherlands Ministry of Defense: Netherlands does not support U.S. plan to block the Strait of Hormuz

¬ Iranian Ministry of Defense: Iran has prepared sufficient quantities of missiles and drones for further combat operations

¬ Egyptian military expert: The U.S. is using the ceasefire period with Iran to replenish military supplies

¬ The United States begins blocking the Strait of Hormuz

¬ Media: Shipowners refuse to transit through the Strait of Hormuz until safety assurances are provided

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U.S. President Trump threatened that any Iranian vessels approaching the maritime blockade zone would be immediately destroyed.

Trump posted on his social platform "Truth Social": "Here's a warning: If any of those (Iranian) speedboats approaches our blockade zone, it will be immediately destroyed, and we will use the same strike methods we employ when targeting drug traffickers at sea."

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Dilan Yillergöz-Zehrius, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, stated on April 13 that the Netherlands does not support the U.S. plan to block the Strait of Hormuz.

Yillergöz-Zehrius said during a local radio program: "We are not involved in this matter at present. After all, this is a new situation—now it’s the U.S. blocking, now it’s Iran blocking; it’s very difficult to figure out what everyone is doing. But I don’t think we will participate in the blockade."

She added that the Netherlands is currently working with its allies to determine how to move into the next phase and ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Reza Taleb Nik, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, stated in the context of no peace agreement reached with the U.S. that Iran has prepared sufficient missiles and drones for further combat operations.

He told Iran’s SNN TV: "From the perspective of missile potential, drone capabilities, ammunition, and other types of weaponry, the strategic reserves of the Iranian armed forces are fully secured, enabling continued effective offensive and defensive operations to further strike the enemy."

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Egyptian military expert Samir Ragib told Russia's Sputnik News: "The U.S. is taking advantage of the current ceasefire period to complete military preparations and resupply efforts, including purchasing weapons, missiles, and ammunition."

Ragib believes that if the Strait of Hormuz opens under pressure or concessions, the conflict will remain frozen until an agreement is reached on nuclear issues. However, if Iran uses force to prevent the strait’s opening, the conflict will revert to its pre-ceasefire state. The expert noted that Iran can endure the maritime blockade in the short term, but it will face significant pressure over the long term.

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The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), acting on orders from President Trump following the breakdown of talks between Washington and Tehran, has begun implementing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, U.S. Central Command announced that it would begin "blocking all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports" at 22:00 Beijing time on April 13. CENTCOM also clarified that the blockade includes ports in the Persian Gulf as well as those in the Gulf of Oman, with the Strait of Hormuz serving as the connecting passage between these two bodies of water.

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U.S. media reports indicate that shipowners and brokers are refusing to transit through the Strait of Hormuz until safety assurances are provided by both the U.S. and Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported: "President Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz has increased uncertainty across the global maritime transport sector: shipowners and brokers say they will not pass through this critical narrow channel until both the U.S. and Iran guarantee safe passage."

The newspaper reported that a Greek shipowner with four cargo vessels waiting to enter the Persian Gulf to load goods for Chinese and Singaporean clients said he would wait a few more days. "If the threat to the Strait of Hormuz is not removed, I will withdraw my vessels," he stated.

The paper noted that shipowners today must negotiate with both sides to pass through the strait, but the mechanism for safety assurance remains unclear.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that shortly before Trump announced the blockade, two ultra-large crude carriers belonging to China COSCO Shipping successfully passed through the strait. However, a senior executive at China COSCO Shipping told the newspaper that five other tankers originally scheduled to transit the strait are now stranded and will not attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz until the situation becomes clearer.

Source: sputniknews

Original: toutiao.com/article/1862371794135051/

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