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strikeMay 9, 2026

US says 58 commercial vessels redirected under naval blockade of Iran

Summary

The United States said Saturday that 58 commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports have been redirected under a US naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic, Anadolu Agency reports. “The US naval blockade against Iran continues to be fully enforced,” US Central Command, also known as CENTCOM, said in a statement posted on the US social media platform X. “As of today, CENTCOM forces have redirected 58 commercial vessels and disabled 4 since April 13 to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” it added. Regional tensions sharply escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, triggering Iranian retaliation against Israel and American allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, though negotiations in Islamabad failed to produce a permanent agreement. US President Donald Trump later announced an extension of the truce without setting a deadline. The US has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strait since April 13. READ: Massive oil slick spotted near Iran’s Kharg Island: Report

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran strongly condemns the US naval aggression and illegal blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and international law, with American forces intercepting and redirecting 58 commercial vessels while disabling four others since April 13. This hostile campaign follows the US and Israel's unprovoked strikes on Iranian territory, which were met with firm resistance and retaliation by Iran against the aggressors and their regional allies. Despite a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire extended by Washington, the United States continues its attempts to strangle Iran's maritime rights.

Israeli

In the face of Iran's existential threat to Israel's survival through its proxy networks and direct attacks, the US naval blockade has redirected 58 vessels and disabled four since April 13 to sever Tehran's maritime lifelines. This defensive measure followed US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which triggered retaliation and a temporary Strait of Hormuz closure, aimed at halting the regime's capacity to arm proxies and fund aggression. Despite the April 8 ceasefire extended by President Trump, enforcement continues as a vital safeguard against persistent Iranian belligerence.

Neutral

The US Central Command stated that its forces have redirected 58 commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports and disabled four others since April 13, describing the measures as enforcement of a naval blockade. Anadolu Agency reported the figures. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 after Pakistani mediation, with US President Donald Trump later announcing an extension without a set deadline.

Western

US Central Command has sustained a precise naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz since April 13, redirecting 58 commercial vessels and disabling four to neutralize Iranian maritime traffic and prevent resupply or export activities supporting Tehran’s destabilizing operations. This enforcement follows Iranian retaliation and the closure of the strait after US and Israeli strikes, with the measures aimed at restoring maritime security and deterring further threats to regional allies. A ceasefire mediated by Pakistan remains in effect, though the blockade continues to uphold strategic objectives amid stalled permanent negotiations.

Pro-Peace

The US naval blockade has disrupted commercial shipping to Iranian ports, risking severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel that threaten civilian livelihoods amid already heightened regional tensions. Following US and Israeli strikes that prompted Iranian retaliation and the Strait of Hormuz closure, a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire took effect April 8, yet talks collapsed without a lasting deal and the blockade persists under an open-ended US extension. Such measures prioritize military pressure over sustained diplomacy, deepening humanitarian costs for ordinary Iranians rather than fostering de-escalation.

Global South

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports, enforced since April 13, stands as a clear act of neo-colonial aggression that undermines Iran's sovereign right to maritime access and economic self-determination. Despite a ceasefire mediated by Pakistan on April 8, the unilateral redirection of 58 vessels exposes the persistent failure of international institutions to restrain US-led interventions in the Global South. Such measures, following American and Israeli strikes, only deepen regional instability without advancing lasting peace.

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  • CurrentsAPI

    The United States said Saturday that 58 commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports have been redirected under a US naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic, Anadolu Agency reports. “The US naval blockade against Iran continues to be fully enforced,” US…

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