Military spokesperson says maritime blockade has forced Saudi tankers to avoid Red Sea route
Archiv: Blockaden / Belagerungen / blockades / sieges
14 countries back Saudi-led multinational maritime defense alliance proposal
Fourteen countries have backed a Saudi proposal to establish a multinational “Maritime Defense Alliance,” aimed at protecting international shipping routes and global trade, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement Thursday.
The countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia.
The ministry said military chiefs and other representatives from 43 countries attended a meeting on the initiative, either in person or by video link. A European Union delegation also took part.
Report: Saudi Arabia To Announce New Red Sea Coalition To Counter Yemen’s Ansar Allah
While the new blockade has disrupted shipping in the region, Ansar Allah hasn’t announced a blanket ban on shipping through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Some Chinese ships loaded with Saudi crude have also been able to pass through the strait, and Reuters reported that Beijing had cleared each passage with Sanaa.
But as the US-Iran war and conflict across the region are escalating again, the chances of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait being completely closed are rising. The Al-Monitor report, which cited two diplomatic sources and an unnamed US official, said that Riyadh has invited around 50 nations to join the Red Sea coalition, but that US support was seen as vital for the initiative to take off, and it was unclear at this point if Washington would participate.
Saudi military strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iran-backed militia attacked Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that its coalition forces struck Houthi militia in Yemen after the Iran-backed group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea earlier in the week.
Air defenses in Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles from Yemen.
The latest salvos appeared to indicate an escalation in fighting in a second front in the Iran war.
Trump tells Axios he‘s considering a „bigger than ever before“ attack on Iran
„I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,“ Mr. Trump told Axios, adding that he believed Iran‘s leaders „want to negotiate,“ but aren‘t yet ready to make a deal.
„They haven‘t received enough pain yet,“ he told the outlet.
U.S. forces carried out a 12th consecutive night of strikes across Iran on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump warned in a social media post Thursday that the Islamic Republic and its Houthi allies would both face „major military punishment“ if the Yemeni rebels repeat their attacks from earlier this week on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Watch: Houthi spokesperson says group targeted Saudi oil tankers
(10 hours ago)
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said its armed forces targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming the vessels had violated a ban imposed by the group.
Saudi Arabia‘s state media later confirmed that one of its vessels was struck and the bow of the ship caught fire, with a source adding that all crew members onboard Encelia were safe.
Trump Suggests He Could Restart Yemen Bombing Campaign in Response to Red Sea Blockade
President Trump on Tuesday suggested he could restart a bombing campaign in Yemen in response to the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, enforcing a blockade on the Red Sea.
Trump’s comments came after Ansar Allah announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, which came a week after the Saudis bombed Yemen’s Sanaa airport to prevent the landing of a plane carrying a Yemeni delegation from Iran to enforce its long-standing blockade on the country that was eased under a 2022 ceasefire deal but never fully lifted.
Yemen’s Houthis announce maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo of their foe Saudi Arabia after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
The rebels “declare a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye,’ effective immediately upon the issuance of this statement”, military spokesman Yahya Saree said
As the Iran war upends energy flows, Russia is emerging as the real winner
(March 10, 2026)
For Russia, which remains one of the world’s largest oil exporters despite Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, the price rally directly translates into stronger state revenues.
Henning Gloystein, managing director for energy and resources at Eurasia Group, said Russia has “already hugely benefited” from the crisis after Washington granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to continue purchasing Russian crude.
Putin is the real winner in Trump’s Iran war as it puts Russian oil back on the map
(March 23, 2026)
The war in Iran is spiking global oil prices, and Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn’t be happier.
The war has bottled up one-fifth of the world’s oil, putting a premium on the remaining supply, including Russian barrels.
US Marines storm Iranian-linked tanker in dramatic Gulf boarding — ‚steel wall‘ blockade in action
US Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a verification boarding of the tanker M/T Wen Yao on Wednesday as American forces enforced a naval blockade in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said.
As of July 16, US forces have redirected three commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled one that failed to comply and boarded another to verify full compliance, CentCom reported.
US strikes oil tanker with missiles as it enforces new Iran blockade
The US has attacked an oil tanker in the Gulf, which it said was heading towards Iran‘s largest oil export terminal, as it reimposed a blockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Wednesday that Belma „ignored multiple warnings“ as it was heading towards the Kharg Island oil terminal and an aircraft disabled the tanker by „firing Hellfire missiles into the ship‘s smokestack“.
Iran asks Houthis to block Red Sea if US hits energy sites: Reports
Iranian officials have asked Yemen’s Houthis to block the Red Sea if the U.S. carries out strikes on Tehran’s energy sites, according to Reuters.
Two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter reportedly told the outlet that the Houthis had been informed of the request, which was discussed within the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Trump’s ridiculous Hormuz proposal is the last thing the world needs
The strait was open before the US and Israel joined forces to wage war on Iran, only to have that nation slam it shut. Some vessels got through during the ceasefire, with Iran charging $3 million for a fully loaded supertanker to transit the strait.
Trump’s threatened toll would jack that cost up to $69 million.
Trump proposes 20% toll on cargo through Strait of Hormuz; restarts Iran blockade
President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. will impose fees in the Strait of Hormuz “at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped,” after declaring America the “guardian” of the major oil shipping route.
U.S. military to enforce new Iran blockade starting 4pm Tuesday
President Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. is reinstating the naval blockade on Iran and will prevent any ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports. The blockade will go into effect on July 14 at 4pm ET.
Trump also claimed the U.S. would be „reimbursed“ at a rate of 20% for securing safe passage for cargo ships, though the details and seriousness of the initiative were not immediately clear.
Vance Heads to Peace Talks, After Iran Says It Closed Strait of Hormuz
Vice President JD Vance on Saturday headed to peace talks in Switzerland, signaling renewed efforts to keep an agreement signed earlier this week by President Trump on track after Iranian security officials said they had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli violations of MoU
The statement added that the Israeli attacks have led to “brutal killings and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of oppressed people” in southern Lebanon, adding that the Israeli regime has also failed to withdraw its forces from those territories.
The military command said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the first step in response to the breach of commitments under the MoU by the US and its allies, adding that Iran will adopt further measures to compel the enemy to fulfill its obligations.
Iran says it‘s closing vital Strait of Hormuz, blaming Israeli attacks in Lebanon
Iran’s military command said it will close the Strait of Hormuz due to Israel’s “ongoing” violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the United States “failing to implement” the first clause of the tentative agreement to end the war, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.
“In view of the United States’ bad faith and its clear breach of its commitments by failing to implement the first article of the memorandum ending the war, and in response to the continuous and ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon… It hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels,” Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement that was reported by state broadcaster IRIB.
Iran war day 104: Iran attacks US bases, closes strait after Trump strikes
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, launches retaliatory strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan after US bombs Iranian targets.
US says it fired on, disabled ship violating Iran port blockade
(2 June 2026 22:27 BST)
US forces fired a missile at a ship that was attempting to sail to an Iranian port in violation of an American blockade, disabling the vessel, the US military said on Tuesday.
The Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie – an unladen oil tanker – „ignored repeated warnings“ over a 24-hour period, and an American warplane „ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship‘s engine room“, the US military‘s Central Command said in a statement.
Iran suspends talks with the US over Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, Iranian media reports
Tasnim added that Tehran and allied militant groups in the region have placed on their agenda the “complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the activation of other fronts,” including the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have previously launched attacks on passing vessels.
Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran ‚going global‘
„We‘re enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory,“ Caine said.
„We‘re closely tracking vessels of interest headed towards Iran and those moving away from Iran that were outside the blockade area when this blockade was ordered and … we‘re prepared and postured to intercept them,“ he said.
The U.S. naval blockade on Iran began on April 13.
WATCH: Hegseth calls U.S. war in Iran a ‚gift to the world‘
Watch the full news conference in the video player above.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the U.S. blockade of Iranian shipping will continue „as long as it takes“ to accomplish America‘s „bold and dangerous“ mission to end Iran‘s threat to global security.
Pramila Jayapal calls U.S. oil blockade on Cuba ‘outrageous’: Full interview
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press after her visit to Cuba, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) says the Cuban people are being collectively punished by the U.S. oil blockade, and says she would like to see formal negotiations between the two countries.
U.S. to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports
TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation.
The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade. All mariners are 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.
Trump Announces Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
The President said he gave the order because Iran refused to agree not to develop nuclear weapons during talks with US officials in Pakistan on Saturday. “The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours,” the President wrote in a second post on Sunday. “I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS!”
Trump kündigt Seeblockade der Straße von Hormus an
Zwar lässt Teheran seit einigen Tagen im Zuge der Waffenruhe mit den USA vermehrt Schiffe passieren – aber nur, wenn diese eine Maut entrichten. Sehr zum Unwillen von US-Präsident Donald Trump. Der erklärte nun, die Kriegsmarine seines Landes sei angewiesen, die Straße von Hormus vollständig zu blockieren. Mehr noch: Jedes Schiff, das eine Gebühr an Iran entrichtet habe und sich in internationalen Gewässern befinde, werde aufgebracht.
Trump says US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said today the US Navy will begin blockading ships in the Strait of Hormuz and interdicting every ship that has paid a toll to Iran, after US peace talks with the country ended in a stalemate.
Trump also said the US will prevent passage for any ship that has paid a toll to Iran and will begin removing mines from the strait.
Blackout in Kuba
Der Ausfall am 16. März wurde nicht durch ein einzelnes Kraftwerk (wie das oft kritisierte Antonio-Guiteras-Werk bei Matanzas) verursacht, sondern dürfte durch ein Übertragungsproblem ausgelöst worden sein. Die Regierung untersucht die genaue Ursache. Bis zum 17. März war Strom in weiten Teilen teilweise zurück – Santiago de Cuba bleibt jedoch weiterhin dunkel. Weiterhin sind Millionen ohne Strom.
China Halts Fuel Exports as Hormuz Crisis Tightens Global Supply
(today)
The Chinese government has moved to ban all fuel exports amid a worsening supply crunch because of the severe disruption in tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The ban covers gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, unnamed sources told Reuters.
The restrictions will take immediate effect, applying to all cargoes that had not passed through customs as of March 11, the sources also said.
In first address, Iran’s new Leader stresses defense, need to keep Hormuz closed
Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed the leadership in neighboring countries, urging them to reconsider their relations with foreign powers using their territories to launch attacks against Iran.
“We share borders with 15 countries, both land and sea, and have always sought warm and constructive relations with them,” he said, adding that the enemy has established military and financial bases in some of these nations.
He made it clear that while Iran will continue to target these foreign bases, it remains committed to good relations with its neighbors, provided they stop hosting such foreign military installations.
The US and Israel’s war with Iran has spread to the sea. Catch up on the latest
Several vessels in the oil-rich Persian Gulf have been targeted in recent days as the US and Israel’s war with Iran spreads to the sea, sparking fears that disruption to the global oil supply could hit the world’s economy.
On Wednesday night, two foreign oil tankers in Iraqi waters were set ablaze by an Iranian attack, killing at least one person, with dozens of crew members rescued. Iran claimed responsibility, saying an underwater drone “blew up two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf,” Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.
IEA Member countries to carry out largest ever oil stock release amid market disruptions from Middle East conflict
IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of over 1.2 billion barrels, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation. The coordinated stock release is the sixth in the history of the IEA, which was created in 1974. Previous collective actions were taken in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022.
The conflict in the Middle East that began on 28 February 2026 has impeded oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with export volumes of crude and refined products currently at less than 10% of pre-conflict levels. This is forcing operators across the region to shut in or curtail a substantial amount of production.
An average of 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and oil products transited the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, or around 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade. Options for oil flows to bypass the Strait of Hormuz are limited.
US and Iran dig in and ramp up threats as war rages with no end in sight
Brent crude, the international standard, spiked to nearly $120 on Monday before falling back but was still at around $90 a barrel on Tuesday, nearly 24% higher than when the war started on Feb. 28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average drifted lower at the open Tuesday.
Iran has effectively stopped tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil is carried. Attacks on merchant ships near the strait have killed at least seven sailors, according to the International Maritime Organization.
Roberto Morales Ojeda: “Dignity Never Collapses”
Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, emphasized on his social media profiles that “dignity never collapses,” recalling critical moments in national history.
The leader noted that neither in the disaster at La Fernandina for National Hero José Martí, nor at Alegría de Pío for the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, nor in the October Crisis, was the option of surrender considered. “The enemy’s dream of seeing the white flag waving above the palm fronds is their true, unfulfilled desire,” he declared.
Morales Ojeda emphasized that this is not about isolated gestures from those who abandon collective resistance, but rather a major surrender that would bring an end to the history of the Cuban people’s struggles.
He pointed out that the country is going through difficult times under the impact of the imposed blockade, while the enemy boasts of causing shortages and is betting on the fall of the Revolution to gain political advantages. “However, no people has withstood the onslaught of the giant for so long,” he affirmed.
The Secretary of Organization stressed that independence is at stake and that “Only our sense of patriotism and unity have kept us safe.” “We will remain here, even if they never see the white flag waving above our palms,” he concluded.