One of Iran's top military commanders, Ali Abdollahi, announced via state television that the US blockade creates uncertainty for Iran's merchant ships and therefore risks the current ceasefire.
The powerful forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Red Sea, he said, according to AFP.
The Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen has previously threatened to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait - the gateway to the Red Sea.
The US military command, Centcom, said on Wednesday that no ships using Iranian ports managed to evade its forces during the first 48 hours of the US blockade. Nine ships have “followed instructions” to turn back, Centcom claimed.
