Iran threatens total blockade on Gulf and Red Sea trade

IRAN will blockade all trade in the Middle East Gulf and Red Sea, if the US continues its own blockade of vessels transiting in and out of Iranian ports, a key Iranian military leader has threatened.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the central headquarters of Iran’s armed forces, said the US blockade was creating insecurity for Iranian oil tankers and commercial vessels, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-owned Tasnim News Agency reported.

He said the US blockade was a “precursor to a violation of the ceasefire” and if it continued, “the powerful Armed Forces of Iran will not allow any exports or imports in the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea to continue”.

“Iran will take decisive action to defend its national sovereignty and interests,” he said.

Last week, Tehran announced a traffic separation scheme to control traffic in and out of the strait, and mandated that all vessels wanting to transit the chokepoint coordinate with the IRGC.

Days later, following the breakdown of US and Iran talks in Islamabad, President Trump said the US would blockade vessels trying to leave or enter the Strait of Hormuz. That threat was then clarified as targeting Iran-linked trade, with US Central Command (Centcom) confirming its forces would begin blockading all traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports from 1500 hrs on April 13.

Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the US held “maritime superiority” in the Middle East, and claimed his forces had “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea”.

A draft of the notice to mariners circulated among maritime security sources on Monday indicated a “grace period” for “neutral” vessels if they depart Iranian ports before 1400 hrs UTC, but no official confirmation has been given.

There were signs on Tuesday that Iran-linked vessels were adjusting to the blockade, changing courses and stated AIS destinations. However, some Iran-linked tonnage, including two very large crude carriers, made inbound voyages through the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade began.

The renewed threat by Major General Abdollahi raises the prospect of a renewed campaign against shipping by the Houthis.

The Yemeni militants, backed by Iran, have not attacked a commercial vessel in a year, though the UKMTO did report a sailing vessel being approached by a skiff with armed men on board off Hodeidah, Yemen.

A renewed Houthi threat in the Red Sea could threaten loadings of Saudi crude from Yanbu, which has been used as an alternative route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Lloyd’s List asked Houthi entity Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center last month whether the loadings at Yanbu or the tankers transiting in and out of the Bab el Mandeb would be disrupted.

The HOCC said there was “no cause for concern in this regard” and “no reason to prevent this trade from continuing”.

But that was more than a fortnight ago, before the US blockade and Iranian threats. A change in directive from Tehran that results in disruption to Red Sea tanker flows would close another significant artery for Middle Eastern oil exports.

Vortexa data shows that crude oil loadings from Red Sea ports reached record highs in March, with 3.55m bpd loaded for exports. Vortexa data shows close to 4.5m bpd has already been fixed for loadings in April so far.