Tehran:Iran's state media reported that the commander of the country's joint military command said that if the US does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports, Iran will completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea. This is a big change. Ali Abdollahi said, "Iran will act strongly to protect its national sovereignty and its interests." He also said that the US blockade is "a prelude to breaking the ceasefire."
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz more than a month ago when Israel and the United States attacked it. On Monday, the United States started blocking ships trying to get into or out of Iranian ports. It said it would not stop other ships in the Persian Gulf from sailing freely.
Mediators are getting closer to extending the ceasefire between the US and Iran.In the meantime, mediators worked to extend the ceasefire between the US and Iran and start talks again to save the fragile truce before it ends next week.
A high-ranking Iranian military official said that trade in the area would stop if the US did not lift its naval blockade. This shows how tense things are, which is getting in the way of diplomacy.
The US blockade of Iranian ports and new Iranian threats have put the week-old agreement in danger. However, regional officials said on Wednesday that they were making progress. They told the Associated Press that the US and Iran had reached a "in principle agreement" to extend the agreement to allow for more diplomacy.
Iran will completely stop all trade across the Persian Gulf region.On Wednesday, the head of Iran's joint military command said that Iran would completely block all trade across the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea if the US military does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports.
Ali Abdollahi said, "Iran will act with strength to protect its national sovereignty and its interests." He called the blockade "a prelude to violating the ceasefire." Iranian state media reported on what he said.
Before the two-week ceasefire expires on April 22, mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points that derailed direct talks last weekend - Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages - according to one of the regional officials who is involved in mediation efforts.
On Tuesday, world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said that talks would probably start up again in the next few days. At least 3,000 people have died in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. There have also been 13 US service members who have died.
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