TEHRAN: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports would worsen instability in the Gulf and ultimately fail to meet its objectives.
He stated that any move to impose maritime restrictions violates international law and is “doomed to fail,” warning that such actions would heighten tensions rather than improve regional security.
Pezeshkian added that the blockade would not contribute to peace, but instead become a source of disruption, undermining long-term stability in the Persian Gulf.
The United States imposed the naval blockade on April 13, shortly after a ceasefire brought a temporary halt to its conflict with Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s military has continued to keep the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz closed — a key route for global oil and gas shipments — and has recently warned of a response if the US maintains the blockade.
Global oil markets reacted sharply, with prices surging to a four-year high. Brent crude for June delivery jumped 7.1 percent to exceed $126 per barrel, as tensions escalated following the blockade.
In Washington, President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing on possible new military plans against Iran from Admiral Brad Cooper, according to sources cited by Axios.
On Wednesday, a senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reiterated Tehran’s warning, though he did not provide further details.
“We will not tolerate the naval blockade. If it continues, Iran will respond,” said Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in remarks to state television.
Rezaei also cautioned against another conflict between the US and Iran, warning it could lead to US ships being sunk and casualties among American forces.
“If the US starts another war, it should expect that we take a large number of them prisoner,” he said.
Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad dismissed concerns about supply disruptions, saying the US blockade would not produce any meaningful results.
He added that oil sector workers are operating continuously to ensure uninterrupted services and stable distribution.
Separately, Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani indicated that newly developed naval weaponry would be deployed in the near future, signaling further military preparedness.