The United States has announced a formal blockade of Iranian ports, urging all vessels to return to port or risk being boarded and seized. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a stern warning, stating that non-compliance would result in the use of force, with naval forces actively patrolling the Gulf of Oman. This blockade is enforced by approximately 5,000 Sailors and Marines from the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. In response, Iran has condemned the blockade as illegal and claimed it would not be 'blockadable', warning of potential proportional responses to U.S. actions. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei emphasized the country's capability to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that typically handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas traffic. Since the blockade's implementation, maritime tracking data indicates a sharp decline in shipping activity through the strait, as tensions escalate following military strikes against Iran.