U.S. Military to Resume Naval Blockade of Iran Starting 4 p.m. ET on the 14th

The naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against Iran, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to resume at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on July 14, which is 5 a.m. today, July 14, in Korea.

In a statement posted on X on July 13, the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, announced the timing, stating, "In accordance with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, we are resuming the blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports."

President Trump had previously signaled the resumption of the blockade on his social media platform, Truth Social, earlier that day.

The Trump administration had previously initiated a blockade on all vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coasts on April 13, aiming to cut off Iran's sources of funding.

This blockade was lifted on June 18, when the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end hostilities.

However, the measure was reinstated following a series of military clashes, in which the U.S. launched major strikes on Iranian military facilities in response to Iran's recent attacks on civilian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, followed by Iranian airstrikes on U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

This measure, which blocks not only Iran's exports, such as crude oil, but also the inflow of various goods, is expected to further exacerbate Iran's economic difficulties while significantly raising the level of tension in the Middle East.

During the first period of the naval blockade, the U.S. military diverted approximately 140 vessels affected by the measure and neutralized 9 vessels that did not comply with U.S. instructions.

Additionally, the military permitted the passage of approximately 50 vessels carrying humanitarian aid.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.