Iran threatens to halt Red Sea traffic if US military blockade on Iranian ports continues

Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, an Iranian general warned on Wednesday that Tehran could shut down traffic in the Red Sea along with other crucial regional shipping lanes if the United States military's blockade of Iranian ports continues. The remarks came from Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters.

According to The Middle East Eye, the general of Iran's top military command delivered the warning in an address aired by Iranian state television. In his address, Aliabadi said if the US blockade continued, it "creates insecurity for Iran's commercial vessels and oil tankers" and constitutes "a prelude" to violating the ongoing US-Iran ceasefire talks.

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"The powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea," Aliabadi reportedly added. While speaking to Fox News, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "President Trump, Vice President Vance and the negotiating team have made the US redlines very clear."

"The Iranians’ desperation for a deal will only increase with President Trump’s highly effective Naval blockade now in effect, which is sending oil tankers towards the big, beautiful Gulf of America," Leavitt said.

The US stops nine vessels

Meanwhile, the US Central Command released a statement on Wednesday saying the country stopped nine vessels attempting to break the blockade on Iranian ports. According to Fox News, all nine were oil tankers.

Meanwhile, a senior US official also confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday a report from Reuters that a US destroyer interdicted two oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran on Tuesday. Another American official told Reuters that the ships left Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman before being contacted by the US warship through radio communication.

"During the first 48 hours of the US blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past US forces," US Central Command said Wednesday. "Additionally, 9 vessels have complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area," it added.