Merve Aydogan
15 April 2026•Update: 16 April 2026
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that no vessels have breached a US naval blockade of Iranian ports since Monday.
"Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran," CENTCOM said in a post on the US social media company X’s platform.
Noting that a total of 10 vessels have been turned around, it also said that "zero ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday."
In an earlier post, CENTCOM said that "no vessels have made it past U.S. forces" during the first 48 hours of the blockade.
It added that "9 vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area."
The statement came after CENTCOM on Monday began a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
US forces have "completely halted" maritime trade to and from Iran, CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Tuesday.
The command, which is responsible for military operations in the Middle East, said the blockade is being "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations" entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The blockade followed rare direct talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began on Feb. 28, but the negotiations failed to reach an agreement.