WASHINGTON: The US Iran blockade has redirected 104 commercial vessels since Washington resumed maritime restrictions on Iranian ports in July, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.
CENTCOM said the figure covered vessels redirected as of September 17. The command also released imagery of an F/A-18F Super Hornet launching from the USS George H.W. Bush.
The aircraft carrier continues to operate in regional waters in support of the blockade, according to CENTCOM. Meanwhile, U.S. forces continue monitoring commercial traffic approaching Iranian ports.
Washington resumed the blockade on July 14 after an earlier phase ended in June. CENTCOM said at the time that its forces would restrict vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.
However, the command said vessels carrying humanitarian assistance could continue under separate arrangements. During the earlier phase, U.S. forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels and allowed more than 50 humanitarian vessels through.
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Earlier CENTCOM updates also documented enforcement against vessels that refused instructions. For example, U.S. forces disabled ships that the command said attempted to continue toward Iranian ports after repeated warnings.
The latest figure of 104 redirected ships therefore covers the renewed phase of the US Iran blockade. The operation is to continue pressure on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, President Donald Trump is preparing to discuss Iran with leaders from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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Those talks are expected to include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Separately, Trump has been considering whether to resume larger-scale military operations against Iran, Axios reported.
Still, the maritime operation remains active. CENTCOM’s September 17 update said U.S. forces continued redirecting commercial vessels to enforce the blockade around Iranian ports.
