Iran’s military has said it will impede marine traffic in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by U.S. forces continues.
By Catholics for Catholics
In the war between the U.S. and Iran, it seems it will get worse before it gets better.
In a new twist in the conflict, Iran’s military has said it will impede marine traffic in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by U.S. forces persists, heightening unease in a precarious region and raising alarms about global trade and energy supplies.
Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, a senior commander in Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, cautioned that continued U.S. enforcement actions against Iranian shipping could trigger sweeping retaliation, according to a story by Newsmax.
“If the aggressive and terrorist America continues its unlawful actions of maritime blockade in the region and creates insecurity for Iranian commercial ships and oil tankers, this action will be considered a prelude to violating the ceasefire, and the powerful Armed Forces of Iran will not allow any kind of export and import to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,” Abdollahi said, NBC News reported.
The menacing words denote a major escalation following the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports that began earlier this week.
No vessels were able to pass through the blockade in its first 24 hours, with several merchant ships turning back in the Gulf of Oman, according to U.S. military officials.
Making matters worse, the waterways in question are some of the most critical global shipping routes, especially for oil and natural gas.
According to Newsmax, any commotion could send shock waves through international markets and drive-up energy prices — an anxiety already pressing on American consumers.
A naval obstruction of the Red Sea would probably involve Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have previously besieged commercial shipping and U.S. interests in the region, The Times of Israel reported.
Such a move could dramatically expand the conflict and threaten maritime security far beyond the Persian Gulf.
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