CENTCOM to resume Strait of Hormuz blockade Tuesday
U.S. armed forces will resume their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command.
"At the Commander in Chief's direction, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET," CENTCOM announced Monday afternoon.
"CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas," the statement further said, adding that the U.S. military "continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade."

President Donald Trump announced earlier Monday that the U.S. would reinstate the naval blockade against Iranian ships and ports and would charge a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran pushed back swiftly against the president's declaration, with IRGC spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari saying in part that Iran "will under no circumstances allow the United States to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz" and "will deal forcefully with any disruption to the passage of commercial vessels and oil tankers by the invading and pirate U.S. military."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in response "POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service. Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair."
Oil prices climbed steadily all day amid the escalating rhetoric and are now spiking more than 9%. U.S. oil is now selling at around $78 a barrel and global oil is at about $83 a barrel.
-ABC News' Steven Beynon, William Gretsky and Zaki Zunaira





