Iran warns blocking trade through Red Sea amid US blockade in Hormuz strait
發佈日期: 2026-04-15 23:37
TVB News
Iran's armed forces have threatened further retaliation against a US naval blockade on Iranian ports with warnings to completely block exports and imports across important sea lanes of the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.
Commander of Iran's Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya, Ali Abdollahi, pledged to act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests as the United States' blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues for a second day.
In a statement read by an anchor on state TV, he said the "illegal" move by the US creates insecurity for Iran's commercial ships and oil tankers and constitutes a "prelude to violating the ceasefire."
More than 10,000 soldiers as well as dozens of warships and planes were deployed to enforce the blockade, which the US military claimed had cut off Iran's international sea trade.
The foreign ministry in Tehran reportedly said there was a "high chance" that Iran would host a delegation of Pakistani mediators on Wednesday for comprehensive discussions about the perspectives of both sides.
The day before, US President Donald Trump told Fox News that talks with Tehran could resume in the short term and that he sees the war is very close to completion.
Trump said: "I think it's close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to over. You know what? If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we're not finished. We'll see what happens. I think they wanna make a deal very badly."
Trump also said in an interview with the New York Post that a second round of talks aimed at ending the war with Iran "could be happening over next two days."
This after the first round collapsed in the Pakistani capital without an agreement on Iran's nuclear ambitions, which the White House says is a sticking point.
Trump had initially suggested the potential new round would likely happen somewhere in Europe, before hinting to stay put in Islamabad due to the outstanding mediation performance of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir.
