Gulf ports are either for everyone or for no one: Iran military
Iran’s unified armed forces command said the US blockade of Iranian ports was “illegal and amounts to piracy.”
Iran and the United States exchanged sharp warnings on Monday after Washington moved to impose a blockade on Iranian ports, prompting Tehran to announce long-term measures to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz and warn of wider regional consequences.
According to a report from Turkiye Today, Iran's unified armed forces command said the US blockade of Iranian ports was "illegal and amounts to piracy." It also followed what Tehran described as a 48-hour ultimatum issued by US President Donald Trump over the Strait of Hormuz, which warned Iran faced "total decimation".
A spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said, "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran consider defending the legal rights of our country a natural and legal duty..."
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The same spokesperson said, "The security of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for no one."
Iran's military warned that if its ports are threatened, "No port in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman will be safe," reinforcing what it described as a reciprocal approach to maritime security.
Tehran also announced it would "resolutely implement a permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz" even after the war ends, citing continued threats. It said "Enemy-affiliated vessels do not and will not have the right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," while "other vessels will continue to be allowed passage through the strait subject to compliance with Islamic Republic of Iran armed forces regulations."
Separately, Iran's navy chief dismissed the US blockade as "ridiculous and laughable."
Public messaging in Tehran also reflected the escalation, including a large billboard in Revolution Square stating, "The Strait of Hormuz remains closed." Iranian commentary also included warnings that a "Hormuz blockade will make $5 gas look cheap."
The developments come amid broader regional tensions. The source reported that Saudi Arabia's leadership had been urged to "keep hitting Iranians hard," while US Vice President JD Vance said "President Trump is growing 'incredibly impatient' with Moscow."
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping lane, remains central to the confrontation, with both sides signalling further escalation if maritime security conditions deteriorate.
