US Initiates Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff
Key Takeaways
- The United States begins enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran denounces the blockade as piracy and vows regional retaliation.
- Diplomats work to arrange a second round of talks amid the blockade.
US-Iran Maritime Blockade
The United States formally initiated a naval blockade of Iranian ports on Monday.
Central Command confirmed the measures are strictly focused on Iranian maritime commerce.
Vice President JD Vance characterised the blockade as a direct response to economic terrorism.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued a direct challenge: If you fight, we will fight.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting warned that security in the Persian Gulf is either for everyone or for NO ONE.
The blockade came as the war entered its 45th day, despite a ceasefire.
Divergent Death Toll Reports
The death toll diverged sharply across sources: Reuters and BBC reported at least 28 killed, Al Jazeera counted at least 41.
The Dhaka Tribune reported 33 confirmed dead.
Police detained factory owner Faisal Rahman.
Superintendent Rashid Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that our initial inspection confirms the exits were not usable.
Firefighter Mahmud Iqbal said 47 people had been injured, including 12 in critical condition.
Survivors described workers pounding on locked metal doors as smoke filled the stairwells.
Supply Chain Scrutiny
Rahman Textile produced clothing for European brands including Hessen and BrandBox.
Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their operations.
Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.
Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken.
Rahman Textile owner Faisal Rahman claimed the factory had passed its most recent safety inspection in January.
The Dhaka Tribune reported exits had been welded shut to prevent worker theft.
Diplomatic Efforts and Regional Reactions
Diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran remained open despite the blockade.
Pakistan proposed a second round of peace talks.
Trump said a second round could be happening over the next two days.
The Kremlin condemned the U.S. naval blockade as a direct threat to global peace.
China officially denounced the blockade as a dangerous and irresponsible act.
The war had killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,000 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members.
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