The US military announced it will resume the maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against Iran starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday. [Reuters]
The US military announced it will resume the maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against Iran starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday. [Reuters]

The US military announced it will resume a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against Iran starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday, as Donald Trump signaled the move through Truth Social posts and other statements Monday.

US Central Command, which oversees the war with Iran, posted on X on Monday that beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday it would "resume the blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at the direction of the commander in chief," referring to Trump.

Earlier, Trump announced the reimposition of the maritime blockade — barring vessels from traveling to and from Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz — in a phone interview with Fox News and in Truth Social posts. The move is intended to apply economic pressure on Iran. The Trump administration had previously imposed a full blockade on all vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal waters from April 13 until the two countries signed a cease-fire MOU, an economic campaign designed to cut off Iran's oil exports and imports of essential goods.

During that earlier blockade, US forces diverted more than 140 vessels attempting to reach or leave Iranian ports, disabled nine ships that defied military orders, and allowed more than 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass.

The blockade was lifted June 18 after the two countries signed the cease-fire MOU, but the United States has revived it as cease-fire negotiations have in effect stalled following a series of airstrikes exchanged between Iran and the US in recent weeks.


kate01@heraldcorp.com