The US has published a notice outlining plans to blockade Iranian ports, warning neutral ships in Iranian waters that they will be subject to 'interception, diversion and capture' if they do not leave before 3 pm London time.
The move comes after peace talks in Pakistan broke down over the weekend, with President Donald Trump stating that the US would blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint.
The US blockade will encompass Iran's entire coastline, including the east of the Strait of Hormuz, and will target all ports in and near the Persian Gulf if Iran's shipping hubs are threatened.
However, the US has said that neutral ships will not be impeded from transiting Hormuz if they are sailing to or from non-Iranian destinations, and humanitarian shipments will be permitted subject to inspection.
