Coronado-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is now being used to block the Strait of Hormuz in the ongoing war with Iran, according to the Associated Press.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, with oil, gas and food traveling through this essential trade corridor.
U.S. Central Command (CentCom), one of the combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense, announced that on April 13, military forces will implement a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports in the strait. This mission includes more than a dozen warships.
The USS Spruance, which is part of the Lincoln’s strike group, redirected an Iranian-flagged vessel after it tried to exit the strait on April 15, according to CentCom.Â
The directive came after President Donald Trump posted to his Truth Social account that the barricade was happening.
Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!
President Donald Trump
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Trump posted on April 12.
However, on April 15 – just three days after Trump’s initial post of closing the strait – the president said that he had opened up the strait for China and the rest of the world.
“I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – and the World,” Trump said on April 15. He claimed that China had allegedly agreed not to send weapons to Iran and that China is “very happy,” although it was never confirmed whether the Asian country was helping Iran.
As of April 17, the strait is open to commercial vehicles, however according to CNN, its opening is under very specific conditions.
An Iranian-backed media outlet, Mizan News Agency, said that entry to the strait would be “limited, fee-based, and managed by Iran” and “in coordination with the armed forces.”
Trump thanked Iran on social media for opening up the channel, but clarified that the naval blockade would remain in full force.
Mining the strait
With Iran controlling much of oil transit through the strait, the United States’ move to blockade the waterway restricts the country’s ability to profit from oil exports, putting pressure on Iran to negotiate with the U.S. after a two-week ceasefire was announced.
The two countries are at odds over Iran’s potential nuclear capabilities, but have not yet come to an agreement — although Trump announced that most of the points have been negotiated.
After coming under attack from the United States and Israel, Iran closed the strait and placed mines in the water, causing merchant ships carrying oil and gas to halt their journey unless they agreed to pay Iran for safe passage.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the disruption to the waterway is “triggering one of the most severe shocks to global commodity flows in recent years,” with food security, agricultural production and global markets being affected.
However, on April 17, the president declared that the U.S. will be helping Iran remove the mines.
Iran’s strategy caused gas prices to increase significantly, prompting Trump to implement his own barrier in a “dual blockade” in order to try and thwart the Middle East country’s profits from oil exports.
The blockade
CentCom’s statement said the blockade will be enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Ships traveling to and from any non-Iranian ports are allowed to pass.
More than 10,000 service members and over 100 fighter and surveillance aircrafts are a part of the operation.
CentCom Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said on April 14 that “in less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”
The Abe Lincoln has over 3,000 personnel aboard and holds about 90 fixed-wing aircrafts and helicopters.Â
Along with the Lincoln, another aircraft carrier – the USS Tripoli – is also among the Navy ships enforcing the blockade.
