US denies ships violated Iran blockade, says over 10,000 personnel enforcing closure

US surges forces in the Middle East, with more than 10,000 troops and over a dozen warships enforcing the naval blockade on Iran.

By World Israel News Staff

The US military said Tuesday that no vessel had broken its new naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas during the first 24 hours of enforcement, as Washington surged more than 10,000 personnel, over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft into the waters around the Strait of Hormuz.

“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade and six merchant vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement reported by Reuters.

CENTCOM added that the operation was being “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas,” underscoring that the order applies to traffic tied to Iran rather than to every ship passing through the waterway.

That clarification came as questions swirled over whether some ships had continued moving through the area.

The Associated Press reported earlier that CENTCOM’s blockade announcement still allowed vessels traveling between non-Iranian ports to pass through the strait, even after President Donald Trump had publicly threatened a broader closure.

The military buildup has expanded steadily since the collapse of US-Iran talks in Islamabad over the weekend. Trump announced the blockade after those negotiations ended without an agreement, and oil prices initially jumped sharply on fears of a wider disruption to shipping and energy flows.

Days before the blockade took effect, the Pentagon had already begun moving warships through Hormuz and preparing to reopen secure shipping lanes.

Reuters reported on April 11 that the USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the strait as part of a mine-clearing mission after US officials accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of laying sea mines in the channel.

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said at the time.

The blockade notice circulated to mariners warned that “any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture.” At the same time, the US military said humanitarian cargo, including food and medicine, would still be allowed after inspection.

Iran has denounced the US move and insisted the strait remains under its control.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Hormuz was still open to non-military traffic, while warning that military vessels would face a “forceful response.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most sensitive shipping chokepoints. Reuters reported that the conflict and Iranian threats to maritime traffic have already driven oil prices roughly 50% higher since the war began in late February.