The United States plans to implement a blockade on all shipping traffic to and from Iranian ports starting Monday evening at 10 AM Eastern Time. This decision follows the unsuccessful direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran that took place in Islamabad over the weekend, aimed at curbing Iranian trade.
In retaliation, Iran has warned that no shipping routes in the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman would be secure should the U.S. proceed with its blockade of Iranian maritime access.
Details regarding the specific enforcement mechanisms for the blockade have yet to be clarified. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has previously stated that it will impose the blockade fairly on vessels from all nations that are either entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal regions, including those in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. However, they emphasized that this action would not restrict the freedom of navigation for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations.
Former senior naval officers have noted that a blockade is considered an act of war or may be classified as an International Armed Conflict. It involves actions by a state engaged in conflict, aimed at stopping vessels and aircraft from all states—whether adversarial or neutral—from accessing specific ports or coastal areas controlled by an enemy state. This is why during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the Kennedy administration referred to its naval actions as a quarantine rather than a blockade.
Retired Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan explained that a blockade generally necessitates the deployment of combat vessels tasked with stopping and inspecting, and if necessary, capturing ships suspected of attempting to breach the blockade. He described the concept of a “close blockade,” where forces are stationed near the targeted ports, as well as a “distant blockade,” which occurs further away and may allow vessels a chance to circumvent the blockading forces.
He stressed the importance of maintaining a blockade with sufficient military presence to effectively deny access to enemy coasts. For a blockade to be legally valid, it must meet specific criteria, including proper establishment and notification to both belligerent and neutral parties, continuous enforcement against all vessels, a legitimate military goal, and a demonstrable effectiveness in restricting access.
Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar (retired), former National Maritime Security Coordinator, warned that the implementation of the blockade could worsen the ongoing global energy crisis, which escalated when Iran began obstructing the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions. He pointed out that Iran’s geographical position provides it with a strategic advantage in the Persian Gulf, making other forces in the region vulnerable to potential attacks utilizing drones and missiles.
He further elaborated that a blockade could also involve the seizure of vessels traveling to and from the ports of the opposing nation. Regarding the implications for India, Vice Admiral Chauhan indicated that such a blockade could disrupt not only oil and gas exports but also other trade flows between India and Iran.
India’s maritime trade with Iran during the 2025-26 period has been modest, estimated at approximately $1.1 to $1.2 billion from April to December 2025. However, this trade is crucial for the Indian economy, as it consists of significant exports of food grains and pharmaceuticals, including rice and immunological products, as well as smaller quantities of iron and steel, machinery, electrical goods, and organic chemicals.
Currently, India’s imports from Iran focus on non-crude oil commodities, including petroleum bitumen, methanol, and construction-related minerals like gypsum.
Amrita Nayak Dutta covers defense and national security for The Indian Express’s national bureau. She has a rich background in journalism, having reported on various topics including the media industry, urban issues, bureaucracy, and government policies over her 14-year career. Amrita has extensive experience in both print and online media, having worked in different regions of India, including remote border areas, to produce in-depth reports and investigative pieces on media and defense matters.
