The US military is scheduled to begin a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday to block all ships dealing with Iranian ports. The measure, which is enforced in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, aims to intercept and capture any ships that violate the blockade zone. However, neutral routes to non-Iranian destinations will reportedly not be affected.
Iran responded by describing the blockade as an “act of war” and “piracy,” and warned that all ports in the Gulf region will no longer be safe. Tehran also threatened to block US ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. Iranian parliamentary leaders insisted that they have “other cards” that have not been used in this conflict.
Internationally, the blockade has caused a rift in relations between the US and its European allies. The United Kingdom and Spain have officially stated that they will not be involved, while the European Union has called for freedom of navigation to be restored. Trump in his response criticized NATO for refusing to support the military operation and hinted at a possible reassessment of the US role in the alliance.
Global financial markets reacted negatively with crude oil prices surging back above $100 a barrel on Monday. Global stocks were also in a state of uncertainty as investors assessed the risk of diplomatic talks in Pakistan failing. The uncertainty has erased some of the optimism over the ceasefire reached last week.
Internal reports suggest President Trump is now considering the option of a limited military strike rather than a full-scale bombing. This option is seen as Washington's attempt to exert maximum pressure without falling into a long-term conflict. Although the door to diplomacy remains open by intermediary countries such as Pakistan, the gap between the two sides' demands remains wide, especially on the issue of uranium enrichment.
