TOI correspondent from Washington: The US military said it will begin enforcing President Trump-announced blockade of the Hormuz Strait at 10 am EST on Monday (730 pm IST), while clarifying that the embargo will only apply to vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and not other Gulf entrepots.
"CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," the Tampa-based military command said in statement on Sunday, underlining free passage for countries trading with U.S Gulf allies such as UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia that also use the Strait of Hormuz for trade and commerce. “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” Centcom said.
