The United States military has issued its strongest enforcement warning yet for the Strait of Hormuz blockade, stating that any vessel entering or exiting the blockaded area without permission will be “subject to interception, diversion, and capture.”
In a notice to seafarers seen by Reuters, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it would enforce the blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz beginning at 7:30 PM Sri Lanka time on April 13.
The blockade applies to all maritime traffic regardless of flag, CENTCOM said — a significant escalation from the earlier blockade activation that used “interdiction” language. The shift to “capture” as a stated consequence raises the stakes for any commercial vessel attempting to transit the strait without US military clearance.
The announcement directly threatens shipping routes critical to Sri Lanka’s fuel supply chain, which depends on tankers transiting the Hormuz corridor. With oil already above $100 per barrel, the tighter enforcement could further delay fuel shipments and compound the island’s ongoing energy crisis.
Israel has endorsed the blockade, while the UK has declined to join the US-led action. Iran’s IRGC has warned that Gulf and Oman ports are unsafe.
The CPC has secured fuel stocks through late April, but the tightening blockade raises questions about shipments scheduled for May and beyond.
