Iran threatens to halt Gulf trade unless U.S. lifts the blockade

April 17 ------ Iran has threatened to halt trade across the Gulf region if the United States does not lift its blockade of Iranian ports, escalating tensions around the standoff.

The warning came on 15 April, from the head of Iran’s joint military command, signaling the potential for broader disruption to regional shipping. Despite the rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview on the same day that the war in Iran was very close to over.

At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that Washington is preparing to intensify economic pressure by imposing secondary sanctions on financial institutions doing business with Iran, describing the move as the financial equivalent of a “bombing campaign.”

Furthermore, as reported, diplomatic efforts are also continuing with mediators making progress toward extending the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and another round of negotiations expected. However, a senior U.S. official noted that Washington has not formally agreed to an extension.

A Pakistani delegation has arrived in Tehran for talks, marking the latest attempt to de-escalate the situation, the Washington Post reveals.

Source: safety4sea.com