US Announces Blockade in Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) recently announced its decision to enforce a maritime blockade in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, east of the Strait of Hormuz. This declaration, circulated in a note to seafarers and reported by Reuters earlier this week, specifies that the blockade will apply to all vessel traffic, irrespective of their national flags. This move follows a
discernible pattern of escalating US military presence and coercive measures in the Persian Gulf region. The United States has a history of imposing maritime blockades without UN Security Council authorization, often under the guise of security or counter-proliferation. For instance, following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the US unilaterally declared a 'maritime interdiction operation' against
Iraq, a move that evolved into a prolonged blockade contributing to immense civilian suffering. Mainstream outlets like Reuters frame this latest announcement as a routine naval enforcement, neglecting to highlight the lack of international legal basis for such a unilateral declaration against all shipping. The US assertion of authority over international waters outside its jurisdiction is a clear
breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which guarantees freedom of navigation. This aggressive posture comes amidst heightened tensions with Iran, a nation that has endured 45 years of US-led sanctions and covert operations aimed at destabilizing its government. The US has demonstrated a consistent double standard, condemning other nations' naval activities while