Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: US blockade of Iranian ports "will never be effective"

CoinFeed reported on April 18 that, according to Jinshi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Iran will never accept a US blockade of its ports or any other "orders" issued by the US. "There will never be any blockades in the future," he said. "The era of colonialism must end," he added. The US "cannot dictate to other countries." Furthermore, the UK's Office for Maritime Trade Operations stated that the captain of an oil tanker reported being approached by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on the tanker, and the tanker and its crew reported that they were safe. Three maritime safety and shipping sources said that at least two merchant ships reported being shot at on Saturday while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz; the impact of the shootings is not yet clear.