10 hours ago
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The US blockade began on Monday at 3pm BST.
11:53, Wed, Apr 15, 2026 Updated: 12:12, Wed, Apr 15, 2026
The warning was issued by the Iranian military (Image: Getty)
Iran has warned it will block exports and imports in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Red Sea should the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continue. The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a top-level military command coordinating operations, urged Washington to remove its blockade amid the fragile two-week ceasefire.
He said: "If the United States continues its naval blockade of the region, the powerful armed forces of Iran will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea." The commander added that, if the US naval blockade continues, it will be seen by Tehran as a "prelude" to a violation of the ceasefire.
A military commander called for an end to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. (Image: Getty)
He said: "If the aggressor and terrorist America continues its illegal maritime blockade in the region and creates insecurity for Iran's merchant ships and oil tankers, this action by America will be a prelude to a ceasefire violation."
If Iran follows through on its threat to cut off imports and exports, this could have devastating impacts on global trade and markets, particularly as a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait.
The UK has already suffered the sharpest cut to growth forecasts of the largest global economies after the conflict in the Middle East raised the prospect of a "major energy crisis", the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed.
It said the spike in energy prices caused by the war will help push UK inflation towards 4% – double the Bank of England’s inflation target – and contribute to higher costs for households.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the war "will come at a cost to the UK", while the IMF explained that the war and weaker UK economic growth late last year were both to blame for the downgrade in its growth forecasts.
There was renewed hope for a long-term ceasefire on Wednesday as mediators moved closer to extending the two-week peace deal and restarting negotiations to salvage the fragile truce before it expires next week.
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Regional officials told The Associated Press that the US and Iran had given an "in principle agreement" to extend it to allow for more diplomacy.
Before the ceasefire expires on April 22, mediators are pushing for a compromise on Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to one of the regional officials involved in mediation efforts.
English (US) · 