US military widens blockade on Iran to include 'contraband' shipments, advisory says

Amid escalating tensions in the ongoing Iran war, the United States has widened the scope of its maritime blockade on Tehran's ports, allowing forces to target vessels carrying a wide range of “contraband” goods, and assert the right to stop, search and seize such ships globally, as reported by Reuters citing a US military advisory on Thursday.

The "contraband" goods included ⁠weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products as well as iron, steel and aluminium.

Also read: US ready to resume strikes if Iran rejects peace deal, warns Hegseth


US military forces has expanded the blockade on Iran to include cargoes and ⁠any ⁠vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be "subject to belligerent right to visit and search", the ⁠US navy ‌said in an advisory.

"These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure," the navy said in an updated advisory after ‌a blockade was imposed on Monday.

Optimism grew on Thursday that the Iran war may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator having made a breakthrough on "sticky issues", a source said, although Iran warned the fate of its nuclear program had not been resolved.

The military advisory comes at a team when Washington and Pakistan have been talking up the prospects for a peace deal with Iran in the more than six-week war, with US President Donald Trump saying the accord would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan Field Marshal ‌Asim Munir arrived in Tehran ⁠on Wednesday ⁠to try to prevent a renewal of the conflict after marathon ceasefire talks held in Islamabad last weekend failed, ending without a deal.

Munir's trip had led to greater hopes for a second round of talks and an extension of the two-week ceasefire, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday, but said fundamental differences remain over its nuclear program.

Pakistan's foreign ministry had said that both sides are willing to resume talks, though no date had yet been set.