U.S. Navy Turns Back Iranian Cargo Vessel After Bandar Abbas Attempted Spoofing

A U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz began on Monday, and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that in the two days since it was established, “multiple vessels have been turned around in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“What to know about 'ship spoofing' by Iran-linked vessel to breach the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz At least three U”

ABC News

In a social media statement shared by ABC News, CENTCOM said, “Ten vessels have now been turned around and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday,” adding that “Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas.”

ABC News

ABC News reported that maritime intelligence experts said some ships linked to the Islamic Republic appear to be using deceptive methods known as “spoofing” to breach the critical channel.

ABC News explained that ship spoofing involves transmitting false information via the Automatic Identification System, requiring vessels to disclose tracking data including “the ship's name and identification number, as well as speed, heading and course over ground.”

Clayton Seigle of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told ABC News that spoofing can obscure “origins, destination and cargo,” saying, “A ship will show it's loading in Saudi Arabia, but it's actually loading in Iran.”

While ABC News said it was unclear whether any of the ships observed were linked to spoofing, it also reported that ship tracking firms and analysts observed the sanctioned crude oil tanker Alicia cross the Strait of Hormuz inbound “from the Gulf of Oman into the Persian Gulf.”

While CENTCOM described the blockade as deterring breakthroughs, Iran’s state media and ship-tracking data pointed to continued movement through the strait.

CBS News reported that Iran’s Fars News Agency claimed Wednesday morning that a bulk carrier transporting food supplies and an Iranian crude oil tanker entered Iranian waters after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, “hours after a top U.S. military commander said a of Iranian ports was 'fully implemented.'”

Ain Libya

CBS News said Fars claimed a supertanker capable of transporting “2 million barrels of oil” sailed through international waters and the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking system switched on, “without any concealment.”

CBS News also cited MarineTraffic.com data showing the crude oil tanker Alicia making the journey through the strait overnight, noting that the Chinese-owned Alicia “has previously called at Iranian ports and was sanctioned under a previous name for carrying Iranian crude oil.”

The CBS report said Alicia was heading toward the Persian Gulf and reached the coast of Oman on Saturday, “the day before the blockade was announced,” and that it appeared to alter its course in the Gulf of Oman when the blockade began before continuing through the Strait of Hormuz overnight Tuesday.

CBS News further reported that “Two Iran-flagged container ships, both subject to U.S. sanctions, also appeared to leave the Persian Gulf Tuesday and were continuing to sail close to Iran's south coast Wednesday.”

At the same time, CBS News said it could not confirm whether ships were using spoofing, explaining that “CBS News cannot confirm that the ships have not been broadcasting false location reports — a practice called spoofing — to conceal their true whereabouts.”

As the blockade and ship movements played out, the U.S. and Iran were also preparing for a second round of talks and discussing whether to extend a ceasefire.

SMH.au reported that the U.S. and Iran were considering “a two-week ceasefire extension to allow more time to negotiate a peace deal,” citing “a person familiar with the matter” who said the move would reduce the risk of renewed fighting despite an intensifying stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz.

SMH.au said fighting between the U.S. and Iran had been on hold since “about April 8,” shortly after a “two-week ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump the previous evening,” and that an initial round of peace talks was held in Pakistan last weekend.

The Hill reported that the blockade followed “marathon talks” between the U.S., led by Vice President Vance, and Iranian government officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday, and that “Neither side could come to an agreement.”

SMH.au quoted White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the U.S. had not “formally requested an extension of the ceasefire” with Iran, while also saying, “At this moment, we remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks,” and that there are “discussions” about more talks being held in-person “but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White House.”

SMH.au also reported that China’s foreign minister Wang Yi told Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that “Working to resume normal passage of the strait is a unanimous call from the international community,” and that Wang said Iran’s sovereignty and security should be respected while “freedom of navigation and safety through the strait should be ensured.”

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the Pentagon said no ships “made it past” the U.S. military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in its first 24 hours, while also noting that the update came as both sides signalled openness to further talks after “21 hours of negotiations” between a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Reporting diverged on whether the blockade was fully effective, with some outlets emphasizing U.S. claims of zero breakthroughs and others pointing to tankers entering the Persian Gulf.

ABC News highlighted CENTCOM’s assertion that “Ten vessels have now been turned around and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday,” while also describing that it was “unclear if these any of these ships have been linked to spoofing.”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera, quoting the Pentagon, said no ships “made it past” the blockade in its first 24 hours and that “six merchant ships followed orders to turn around,” while also noting that Reuters reported at least three vessels transited the strait during the first 24 hours.

The Hill said the U.S. military had turned around “6 ships” and that it was trying to “completely” halt trade from Iran’s ports, but it also reported that “two U.S.-sanctioned Chinese ships have passed through the strait” and were in the Persian Gulf as of Wednesday morning.

Haaretz and Baird Maritime both described a second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker entering the Persian Gulf despite the blockade, with Baird Maritime stating that the empty VLCC RHN entered the gulf on Wednesday and that “The Alicia is heading to Iraq, Kpler data showed.”

The Straits Times similarly reported that “A second US-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a US blockade on vessels visiting Iranian ports,” and it cited Fars saying an Iranian sanctioned supertanker crossed the strait toward Imam Khomeini port.

Meanwhile, Kurdistan24 said the USS Spruance redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel and that CENTCOM confirmed “ten vessels have now been turned around since the blockade began on Monday, and that not a single ship has broken through.”

The blockade’s stakes were framed in terms of Iran’s sea-based trade and the risk of escalation, while U.S. enforcement methods were described as potentially involving intercepts and force.

ABC News said U.S. officials told it the Navy would use “a broad range of capabilities and equipment to enforce the blockade,” including “surface warships, reconnaissance drones, intelligence, and surveillance aircraft,” and that the Navy was prepared to enforce by “intercepting and boarding ships.”

Al-Jazeera Net

ABC News also quoted Mark Nevitt, a former Navy judge advocate general officer and an associate professor at Emory University School of Law, saying, “This is not a law enforcement action, it's wartime action,” and describing that ships that fail to comply could be met with “warning shots or so-called disabling fire aimed at critical systems, including engines or navigation equipment, to stop movement.”

CBS News reported CENTCOM’s claim that the blockade was being enforced “impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas,” and that “An estimated 90% of Iran's economy is fueled by international trade by sea,” with CENTCOM saying that “In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”

The Hill similarly cited CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper saying the blockade had been “fully implemented” and that “In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”

Al Jazeera added that CENTCOM said “10,000 US sailors, Marines and airmen were involved in the operation,” alongside “more than a dozen US warships and dozens of aircraft,” and it warned that continued pressure increases the likelihood of Iranian attacks and could see a “two-week ceasefire” collapse.

In parallel, Iran’s response was described in terms of refusing maritime pressure: عين ليبيا quoted Lieutenant General Ali Abdollahi of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters warning that continued U.S. blockade could push Tehran to take “broad measures,” saying, “Iran would not allow imports and exports to pass through the Gulf and the Sea of Oman if maritime pressure continues,” and that “the Iranian armed forces will respond firmly to any threat to navigation security.”