U.S. Declares Blockade Effective as First Ships Turned Back from Iranian Ports

The United States says its newly announced maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports is already taking hold, with U.S. Central Command reporting that no vessels successfully transited in or out of Iranian ports during the first 24 hours of enforcement.

In a statement, CENTCOM said more than 10,000 U.S. personnel—backed by over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft—are now actively executing the mission across the region.

“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade,” CENTCOM said, adding that “six merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port