US Forces Redirect Twenty-Nine Ships Amid Naval Pressure on Iran

(MENAFN) According to reports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Wednesday that American forces have ordered 29 commercial vessels to either turn back or return to Iranian ports since the naval blockade targeting Iran’s ports began on April 13.

This latest figure shows a slight rise from the 28 vessels reported the previous day. It also follows an incident on Sunday involving the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA in the northern Arabian Sea, which was rendered inoperable by the USS Spruance after its crew ignored repeated warnings over a six-hour period.

CENTCOM further dismissed media claims suggesting that several commercial vessels had managed to bypass the blockade. The command said such reports were inaccurate.

Earlier claims had suggested that the ships M/V Hero II, M/V Hedy, and M/V Dorena had successfully evaded restrictions and transported millions of barrels of oil. However, CENTCOM rejected this interpretation, explaining that Hero II and Hedy were actually anchored at Chabahar in Iran after being intercepted by US forces earlier in the week.

As for the Dorena, it remains under the escort of a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean following a previous attempt to breach the blockade, according to the same reports.

Iran has not yet issued an immediate response to the US account of these developments.

Meanwhile, shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began on February 28. The situation has unsettled global energy markets and heightened concerns over longer-term economic consequences. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan is currently in effect, with further negotiations expected in an effort to secure a lasting settlement.

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