US warship intercepts oil tankers trying to leave Iran, agency says

American army says that no ship passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours A United States warship intercepted this Tuesday (14) two oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran, according to Reuters. The case happened one day after the blockade imposed by President Donald Trump came into force ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp The vessels had left the port of Chabahar, in the Gulf of Oman, and were contacted by radio with an order to return, said an American official interviewed by Reuters. It is unclear whether there were other warnings. The US official said the two tankers were among six merchant ships that US Central Command said obeyed the order to “turn around to return to an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.” The Central Command said that no ship has managed to overcome the blockade since it came into force on Monday (13), at 11 am in Brasília. The Wall Street Journal newspaper said that more than 20 ships made the crossing. Trump ordered the blockade to put economic pressure on Iran and free up the Strait of Hormuz — a route through which around 20% of the world’s oil passes. The president hopes the move will force Tehran to accept U.S. terms to end the war. The blockade is a large-scale operation, involving more than 10,000 American troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft, according to the US. The Armed Forces say they will guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for vessels in transit, as long as they do not have Iran as their destination or origin. If Trump’s strategy works, he could eliminate Iran’s main instrument of pressure in negotiations with the US and reopen the strait to global trade. But experts say a blockade is an act of war and requires a prolonged commitment with large numbers of ships. The move could also provoke renewed retaliation from Tehran and increase pressure on an already fragile ceasefire. Expert Noam Raydan, from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Iranian retaliation is likely if the blockade is successful and prolonged. He cited threats from Iran to attack Gulf countries hosting American forces and previous attacks on ships. “We are in a testing period,” said Raydan. MORE VIDEOS: most watched on g1

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