US Marines Board Vessel in Arabian Sea Over Iran Route Suspicion

(MENAFN) US Marines operating in the Arabian Sea boarded a commercial vessel on Tuesday and later released it after determining it was not heading to a restricted Iranian port, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, CENTCOM said that Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the M/V Blue Star III earlier in the day.

The command said the ship was inspected and subsequently allowed to continue its voyage after it was confirmed it was not planning to dock in Iran. It also stated that a total of 39 vessels have been “redirected to ensure compliance” with the ongoing blockade measures.

Maritime traffic in the region has been heavily affected since the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28, which has contributed to heightened instability in global shipping routes and increased concerns over energy security.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil shipments, has seen severe disruption during the conflict period. According to reports, the situation has rattled international energy markets and raised fears of prolonged economic consequences.

A ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation is currently in place, although wider diplomatic efforts to reach a permanent settlement have yet to be scheduled following the cancellation of a planned US envoy visit to Islamabad.

The United Nations has reported that shipping through the waterway has dropped by 95.3% since the beginning of the war, while commodity food prices have increased by around 6%, reflecting broader economic pressure linked to the disruption.

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