⚠️ U.S. LAUNCHES BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS AS DIPLOMACY CONTINUES AND ISRAEL PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE ESCALATION
⚠️ U.S. BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS: U.S. Central Command said it will begin enforcing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.
The measure applies to all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and will be enforced against vessels of all nations. CENTCOM said it will not interfere with ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
CENTCOM: "CENTCOM forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET".
Additional guidance for commercial mariners is expected before the blockade begins. Mariners were advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.
🔸 DIPLOMATIC TRACK REMAINS OPEN: Sources told The Wall Street Journal: "A second round of talks between Washington and Tehran may take place within days. The door to diplomacy remains open despite hardline statements from Washington and Tehran".
Reuters reported that Iran rejected a U.S. demand to halt funding for Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas.
⚠️ ISRAELI PREPARATIONS AND POSITIONING: The Israeli defense establishment is preparing for the possibility that Iran could derail the negotiations by launching a large-scale attack on Israel.
A senior Israeli security official told the Broadcasting Authority that Israel wants to resume the war with Iran and is awaiting a decision from President Trump. "If given the green light, we plan to strike key national infrastructure and energy sites across Iran," the source added.
The Israeli cabinet was set to convene last night amid the regional developments. No update has been reported since.
⚖️ LEGAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE: The Acting U.S. Attorney General said the Department of Justice will pursue anyone who buys or sells sanctioned Iranian oil.
The United Kingdom will not join the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
❗️ POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC SIGNALING: Tzvika Fogel, Chairman of the Knesset's National Security Committee: "Donald, if you have to shoot, shoot. Don't quack".
President Trump said: “What will happen to Iran will be similar to what happened to Venezuela.”
A U.S. official said Washington’s red lines for Iran include ending all uranium enrichment, dismantling major nuclear enrichment facilities, retrieving highly enriched uranium, accepting a broader peace, security, and de-escalation framework that includes regional allies, ending funding for Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and fully opening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls.
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