U.S. Military Threatens Force Against Iran Blockade Violators; Iran Vows to Block Red Sea

Gate News message, April 16 — The U.S. Central Command released a 26-second video on April 15 (local time) warning that ships attempting to breach the naval blockade on Iran will face military force. The video stated that the U.S. has declared an official blockade of Iranian ports and advised vessels to turn back or cease navigation; those who ignore the warning will face armed response, with the U.S. Navy prepared to enforce compliance.

In response, Iran’s military warned that if the U.S. blockade continues, it will block the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea. This marks the first time Iran has officially threatened to expand blockades to additional major maritime trade routes. Experts expressed concern that Houthi rebels in Yemen, part of the “Axis of Resistance,” could further disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. With the Strait of Hormuz already constrained, additional closures would severely impact global maritime logistics.

The U.S. is simultaneously escalating military deployment to the Middle East. According to the Washington Post, the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group, carrying 6,000 personnel, will arrive in the region by April 21, when the current two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire expires. This will bring the total number of aircraft carriers in the region to three, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford. The USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, with 4,200 Marines, is scheduled to arrive by late April.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the administration will not renew oil sales licenses for Iran, intensifying economic pressure under the stated “Operation Economic Fury.”