U.S. military says Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports has been airtight

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday it’s successfully implementing President Trump’s decision to block ships from going to and from Iranian ports.

In the first 24 hours, “no ships made it past the U.S. blockade, and six merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM said on social media.

The military said 10,000 U.S. sailors, Marines and airmen are conducting the blockade with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft.

Mr. Trump imposed the blockade on Monday morning to squeeze Iran economically and force Tehran officials back to the negotiating table after they refused to accept all of the U.S. side’s demands during weekend talks. 

Both sides are considering a new round of negotiations to extend a two-week ceasefire that expires on April 21. 

Iran’s restrictions on oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz caused shocks to oil supplies around the world, so Mr. Trump decided to cut off Iran’s access to oil revenue by blocking maritime traffic.

“The blockade is being 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 said. “U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Mr. Trump called him to discuss the war and other matters. They talked about “the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.”

China, meanwhile, criticized the U.S. for the blockade.

“This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. “It is a dangerous and irresponsible move. China believes that only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered veiled criticism of the U.S. operation against Iran during a meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi in Beijing.

Mr. Xi said the world needs to maintain the “authority of international rule of law” and not backslide into “the law of the jungle.”