US Navy Intercept, Reroute Over 60 Ships Under Iran Blockade

(MENAFN) The U.S. military disclosed Monday that 62 commercial vessels attempting to access Iranian ports have been intercepted and rerouted as part of an ongoing naval blockade targeting Iran's maritime trade, marking one of the most concrete public tallies of the operation's reach to date.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) made the announcement via a post on X, citing the active deployment of one of its warships in the operation.

"USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) monitors regional waters as it transits the Arabian Sea during enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran," CENTCOM said.

The command added: "CENTCOM forces have redirected 62 commercial ships and disabled 4 to ensure compliance."

Blockade Rooted in Escalating Regional Conflict
The naval cordon is a direct outgrowth of a sharp escalation in regional hostilities that erupted after U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran — triggering a wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel and American allies across the Gulf, as well as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan came into force on April 8, though follow-on talks in Islamabad failed to yield a permanent settlement. U.S. President Donald Trump subsequently announced an extension of the truce without specifying a termination date.

The U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strait has been in continuous operation since April 13.

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