New York Times Cites CENTCOM: Naval Blockade Against Iran to Begin Later Today

The spokesperson for the U.S. Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM), Captain Tim Hawkins, has said that the U.S. military is finalizing the details and coordination related to the reimposition of a naval blockade against Iran, and that U.S. warships will begin enforcing it later today. The news has been reported by various media outlets, including The New York Times. At the same time, Donald Trump also announced in a post on his social network that the naval blockade of Iran had been reinstated.

• Captain Tim Hawkins, the spokesperson for the U.S. Army’s Central Command, is responsible for U.S. military forces in the Middle East.
• The CENTCOM spokesperson said the U.S. military is finalizing the details and coordination related to the reimposition of a naval blockade against Iran.
• According to reports, U.S. warships will begin enforcing the naval blockade later today.
• The New York Times published the news citing the CENTCOM spokesperson.
• Fars reported that Donald Trump announced on Monday in a post on his social network that the naval blockade of Iran had been reinstated.
• According to Donald Trump, no ship will henceforth be allowed to enter or leave Iranian ports.
• Fars also claimed that with the announcement of the renewed blockade of Iran’s ports, all key clauses of the recent memorandum of understanding have in effect been violated.
• Akhbar-e Fori, citing Axios, reported that the resumed naval blockade has not yet been implemented, because under a legal requirement ship owners must be notified 24 hours before it takes effect.
• A U.S. official told Akhbar-e Fori that the U.S. Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) will announce the exact time of implementation later on Monday.
• The U.S. Navy told Akhbar-e Fori that the naval blockade of Iran will begin at 8 p.m. GMT on Tuesday evening.
• The U.S. Navy told Akhbar-e Fori that this blockade will not prevent neutral vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations and vice versa.. Coverage difference: Outlets such as Shargh and Mehr News used the word “terrorist” to describe CENTCOM and its forces, while other outlets did not use this term. In addition to reporting the news, Fars also offered analysis and a stance on the violation of the memorandum and the strategic mistake of relying on American promises. Some sources, such as Akhbar-e Fori and Akhbar-e Fori, provided more detail on the exact timing of implementation and its legal requirements (24-hour notice), which was mentioned less often in other coverage.