US redirects nearly 100 commercial ships in 60 days as Iran blockade tightens
US Central Command says its forces rerouted about 100 commercial vessels in the past two months as part of ongoing operations enforcing the Iran blockade.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has rerouted approximately 100 commercial vessels in the past 60 days as part of ongoing operations enforcing the U.S.-imposed blockade on Iran, known as the "Steel Wall." These rerouted ships have not crossed the blockade zone without authorization, according to CENTCOM, which continues to monitor commercial maritime traffic in the area.
Iran's threats to vessels in the region have led to a significant drop in shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to the conflict, around 125 large commercial ships, including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, passed through the strait daily. However, this number has now decreased to just dozens of vessels.
The Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of the world's daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been a focal point of the U.S. blockade on Iran-linked shipping. Iran's crude exports have been halted since sanctions were reimposed in mid-July. U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that matters regarding Iran are going well and that the war will end soon, emphasizing that Tehran will not acquire a nuclear weapon.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
