ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States military said on Saturday that its naval blockade on Iran remains “fully enforced,” announcing that American forces have redirected dozens of commercial vessels and disabled four ships since the operation began last month amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf.
“The U.S. Naval blockade against Iran continues be to fully enforced. As of today, CENTCOM forces have redirected 58 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since April 13 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” the Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.
The latest incident took place on Friday when US forces disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers - identified as the M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda - after they allegedly attempted to enter an Iranian port through the Gulf of Oman in violation of the blockade, according to CENTCOM.
The blockade, imposed on April 13 following the collapse of Pakistan-mediated peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran, targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports while officially allowing commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations.
Saturday’s statement comes as the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran - brokered after nearly six weeks of conflict that erupted on February 28 - remains under growing strain.
Despite repeated diplomatic contacts and ongoing mediation efforts by regional countries, military tensions have persisted in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which around one-fifth of global oil supplies passed before the crisis.
Washington has defended the blockade as part of a broader maritime security effort aimed at protecting shipping lanes and preventing Iran from threatening international navigation. The operation was accompanied by “Project Freedom,” a US-led initiative launched earlier this month to guide and protect commercial vessels transiting near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran, however, has repeatedly condemned the blockade as illegal and accused the United States of undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts. Tehran has also warned that continued military pressure could jeopardize negotiations over a longer-term truce.
The US has since suspended “Project Freedom.”
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington could revive “Project Freedom” if ongoing talks with Iran fail, though he stressed the United States is currently pursuing other options.
Speaking to Rudaw before departing the White House for Sterling on Friday evening, Trump said he expected a response from Tehran later that night regarding the latest US proposal.
Iran has said it is considering the proposal.
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