Iran has formally threatened to block all maritime commerce through the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea in response to a US-imposed naval blockade on Iranian ports. The commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia headquarters, Major-General Ali Abdollahi, stated on April 15 that Iran would take decisive measures to defend its sovereignty, describing US actions as illegal and aggressive. The naval blockade by the United States targets shipping traffic to and from Iranian ports via the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes. Iran further warned that blocking the Strait of... [Continue Reading]