US Navy Blocks Iranian Oil Tankers Leaving Chabahar Port in Strait of Hormuz

The US Navy began enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, intercepting two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran's Chabahar port.

“The Pentagon says no ships “made it past” the United States military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in its first 24 hours and six merchant ships followed orders to turn around”

Al Jazeera

CENTCOM said six merchant vessels complied with instructions to turn around, adding that no ships had passed through the blockade since it began.

Al Jazeera

Maritime tracking data indicated that at least three vessels departing Iranian ports managed to cross the Strait despite the blockade.

The operation involves more than 10,000 US personnel, over a dozen warships and multiple aircraft.

Trump linked the reopening of the Strait to a temporary ceasefire set to expire next week.

Iran's IRGC seized the American-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Wall Street Journal reported that six Iranian speedboats armed with 50-caliber machine guns ordered the tanker to stop.

Al-Bayadir al-Siyasi

The vessel accelerated and was later escorted by a US warship.

Fars News Agency claimed the ship had illegally entered Iran's territorial waters and left after receiving a warning.

The incident came as nuclear talks were set to resume and the US military presence in the region increased.

Iran framed its seizure of the tanker as a legitimate defensive act within international law.

The UN's maritime agency has said no country has a legal right to block shipping in straits used for international transit.

The blockade raised fears of escalation and retaliation.

Trump had promised to eliminate any Iranian ships that seek to break the blockade.