Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel strongly backs U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran’s ports.
Kabul 24: In a video statement released from his office during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Iran had violated the rules of the recent peace talks held in Pakistan, prompting Trump to take firm action. “We, of course, support this firm position, and we are in constant coordination with the United States,” Netanyahu stated. He also revealed that he had spoken with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday to align on the matter.
This Israeli endorsement comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the collapse of U.S.-Iran negotiations.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed in an official statement that, per President Trump’s direct order, it will begin enforcing a naval blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman starting at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time (approximately 5:30 p.m. Tehran time) — roughly two and a half hours from the time of the announcement.
The blockade will be applied impartially to vessels of all nations. However, CENTCOM emphasized that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will remain intact for ships traveling to or from non-Iranian ports, marking a partial adjustment from Trump’s earlier broader threat to close the entire strait.Iran has responded with strong warnings.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy declared that any approach by foreign military vessels toward the Strait of Hormuz will be viewed as a violation of the existing ceasefire and will be met with severe consequences. Iranian officials described the U.S. move as “piracy” and an illegal act in international waters, cautioning that if their own ports are threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf or Gulf of Oman will remain safe.
This development has already caused a sharp drop in ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, and has driven oil prices higher.
The blockade targets Iran’s ability to export oil and receive imports, potentially delivering a major economic blow while aiming to pressure Tehran on its nuclear program and regional activities.
Analysts see the action as part of a maximum-pressure strategy by the Trump administration to eliminate Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities and ensure secure navigation in vital waterways. Israel, which maintains close coordination with Washington, views the blockade as a necessary step to neutralize regional threats.U.S. naval forces, including destroyers and mine-countermeasure assets, are already positioned in the area, and enforcement is set to begin shortly.
The coming hours will be critical, depending on Iran’s practical response and any further diplomatic efforts. Future developments could significantly impact global energy markets and the fragile ceasefire in the region.
