The United States on Monday warned it will “vigorously prosecute” anyone involved in buying or selling sanctioned Iranian oil, as tensions rose following the announcement of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who buys or sells sanctioned Iranian oil. The Department of Justice fully supports our Commander in Chief @POTUS and our military,” US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a post on X.
The warning comes after US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on Sunday failed to reach an agreement to end the war that began on February 28. Following the collapse of talks, the US announced a blockade targeting maritime traffic linked to Iran.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces will begin implementing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on Monday at 10 am ET, in accordance with the President Donald Trump’s proclamation.
“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 forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” the Central Command said.
Trump described the move as a “complete blockade” and “all or none,” meaning no ship will be allowed to pass until Iran changes its position.
“At some point, we will reach an 'ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT' basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, 'There may be a mine out there somewhere,' that nobody knows about but them,” he said in a post on Truth Social, adding, "THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”
Trump also said the US Navy will “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran.”
CENTCOM added that further details will be shared with commercial mariners through a formal notice before the blockade begins, calling it part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is “fully clear” of sea mines laid by the IRGC.
