Sanctioned Iranian oil: US warns of prosecutions as CENTCOM begins blockade of Iranian ports

The United States warned it would prosecute people involved in trading sanctioned Iranian oil. The warning came as President Donald Trump announced a blockade linked to Iranian shipping. US officials said the move followed failed US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad. Those talks ended on Sunday without a deal to stop the war that began on February 28.

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US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued the Justice Department warning on X. Blanche wrote: "The Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute anyone who buys or sells sanctioned Iranian oil. The Department of Justice fully supports our Commander in Chief @POTUS and our military,\" Blanche said. The statement signalled legal action alongside the maritime steps.

Iranian oil sanctions and Justice Department warning

The plan also targeted payments linked to Iranian control of shipping routes. Trump said the US Navy would seek and interdict vessels in international waters. Trump said those ships had paid a toll to Iran. Trump described the blockade as pressure against Iran’s actions in the waterway.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said Iran gained while others suffered from disruption. \"At some point, we will reach an ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, There may be a mine out there somewhere, that nobody knows about but them,\" Trump said.

Trump also wrote: \"THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted,\" he said. Trump later spoke on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. Trump said the effort would be a complete blockade, with \"all or none\". Trump said no ship would pass until Iran relented.

Iranian oil sanctions and CENTCOM blockade plan

On Sunday, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, outlined how the blockade would work. CENTCOM said forces would begin implementing a blockade on April 13 at 10 am ET. The action would cover maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. CENTCOM said it would follow the President’s proclamation.

CENTCOM said enforcement would apply to ships of every nation. It would cover vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. That included all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM added that it would not block passage for ships using the Strait of Hormuz to reach non-Iranian ports.

Commercial mariners were told more guidance would follow. CENTCOM said it would issue a formal notice before the blockade started. Mariners were advised to watch Notice to Mariners broadcasts. CENTCOM also asked mariners to contact US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.

Iranian oil sanctions and mine clearance preparations

Last week, CENTCOM said it began preparing for mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz. Two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers transited the strait for that purpose. They were USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. DDG 121 and USS Michael Murphy DDG 112. The move followed reports of sea mines laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC.

CENTCOM framed the destroyer transits as part of a wider operation. \"This is part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines laidby the IRGC,\" CENTCOM said. US officials linked the work to keeping routes open for global commerce. The blockade plan and mine work were presented as separate steps.

With inputs from PTI