US Military: We Have Completely Stopped Maritime Trade to and from Iran

SadaNews: The US military announced on Wednesday that Iranian ports are "fully besieged," and that maritime trade to and from Iran has completely stopped.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper stated in a statement, "The naval blockade has been fully applied to Iranian ports, with US forces maintaining naval superiority in the Middle East."

The statement added: "It is estimated that 90% of the Iranian economy depends on international maritime trade, and in less than 36 hours since the implementation of the blockade, US forces have completely halted maritime trade to and from Iran."

US President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Iranian ports on Sunday, following the failure of a round of negotiations between the two sides in Islamabad on Saturday.

CENTCOM stated earlier: "During the first 24 hours, no ship was able to breach the US blockade."

CENTCOM added that 6 ships complied with US forces' instructions to return to an Iranian port.

The US blockade on Iran has caused more uncertainty for shipping, oil companies, and insurance against war risks.

Sources reported on Tuesday that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still represents only a small portion of more than 130 crossings before the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28th of last year.