The U.S. Blockade of Iran: 122 Vessels Disabled or Redirected

The U.S. military announced on Saturday that it has disabled and redirected 122 vessels since the beginning of the naval blockade imposed on Iran on April 13.

In a statement published on its official X account, the U.S. Central Command said that “American forces operating in the Gulf of Oman enforced blockade measures by disabling a Gambian-flagged vessel that was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on May 29.”

It added: “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces detected a commercial vessel transiting international waters toward an Iranian port located on the Gulf of Oman.”

The statement explained that more than twenty warnings were issued to the vessel, informing it that it was about to violate the U.S. blockade.

It continued: “A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile at its engine room after the crew failed to comply with orders.”

CENTCOM confirmed that “the vessel did not continue its voyage toward Iran.”

According to the statement, U.S. forces had previously disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others as part of the enforcement of the blockade against Iran.

The statement also stressed that “the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect.”

The announcement comes amid difficulties in ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war.