The U.S. military is set to begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT), after weekend talks aimed at ending the war collapsed, officials said.
The move comes as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, with Tehran warning it could retaliate against ports in neighboring Gulf states if its own ports are threatened.
The fragile ceasefire that paused six weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes is now under strain, with only days remaining before it expires.
Oil prices surged as trading resumed on Monday, amid growing uncertainty over the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
An Iranian military spokesperson described any U.S. restrictions on international shipping as “piracy,” warning that no port in the Gulf or Gulf of Oman would be safe if Iranian ports were targeted.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would violate the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, including an assault aimed at seizing a key town in southern Lebanon.
Both the United States and Israel maintain that the campaign against Hezbollah is separate from the ceasefire, while Iran insists it is part of the broader conflict.
