Iran war news: US intercepts 3 commercial vessels attempting to breach Iran blockade, disables one and boards another
US forces have intercepted three commercial vessels attempting to breach the US naval blockade against Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
“As of today, American forces have redirected 3 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 1 that didn’t comply, and boarded 1 to ensure full compliance with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
The US military said its forces had resumed blocking maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on Tuesday. The operation involves stopping and checking vessels suspected of violating the blockade, with US Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting a verification boarding aboard the tanker M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman on July 16, according to CENTCOM.
CENTCOM said the restrictions were aimed at enforcing what it described as a “steel wall blockade” around Iran’s maritime routes. “The Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding waters remain free and open, except for vessels attempting to violate America’s steel wall blockade,” it said.
The latest interceptions come amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route, as the US seeks to restrict maritime traffic linked to Iran.