Iran touts military response as US maintains blockade, hits tankers

Central Command (CENTCOM) forces in the US military have rerouted 92 commercial vessels and boarded two ships as part of the maritime blockade on Iran, according to a statement released on their official X account. Additionally, CENTCOM reported that they disabled three ships during their operations.

The statement from CENTCOM mentioned that a US F-35A stealth fighter is currently patrolling over territorial waters, while their forces continue to enforce the blockade on Iran. Earlier, CENTCOM forces had announced an attack on three Iranian crude oil tankers in response to ballistic missiles launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at two US Navy warships in territorial waters.

CENTCOM emphasized in an official statement that a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully avoided multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks without any injuries to US personnel. Meanwhile, US Vice President J.D. Vance declined to provide a timeline for ending hostilities with Iran during a press conference, stating that the ongoing operations depend on the nature of Iranian attacks on ships.

Vance noted that major combat operations have lasted around six weeks and have achieved their objectives. He avoided describing the situation with Iran as a "war" and refused to set a deadline for ending the fighting. Instead, he highlighted that the more pressing question is when Tehran will cease targeting ships.