Iran War & Ceasefire — 2026-04-13

Iran Calls US Naval Blockade an Act of Piracy, Warns Gulf Ports Are for Everyone or No One

Iran's military central command Khatam Al-Anbiya condemned the US blockade as "illegal" and "an example of piracy," warning that any threat to Iranian port security would endanger all vessels in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. The statement declared Gulf ports are "either for everyone or for no one." The response came hours before CENTCOM's blockade was set to begin at 10:00 ET. Iran's armed forces asserted that US restrictions on maritime navigation in international waters violate international law.

Analysis
Iran's "either for everyone or for no one" formulation is an escalation signal, not merely rhetoric. It implies Tehran may target non-Iranian shipping if its own ports are blockaded, extending the crisis from a bilateral US-Iran confrontation to a threat against all Gulf maritime traffic. The legal framing as "piracy" positions Iran to claim self-defense under international law. The Khatam Al-Anbiya command center issuing the statement (rather than the Foreign Ministry) signals a military, not diplomatic, response posture.
2 sources
  1. Iran Military Says US Naval Blockade Illegal and Piracy - Asharq Al-Awsat
  2. Iran says US blockade on Gulf ports illegal, act of piracy - Al Jazeera

View in full brief →

UNCLASSIFIED // OPEN SOURCE