WASHINGTON: US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that, as part of the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports, a total of 59 commercial ships have been redirected from their original routes.
CENTCOM, in a post on X, said that three ships have been disabled, while two others were boarded by US naval forces.
“As of Aug. 12, US forces have redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 to ensure full compliance with the blockade,” the post said.
An F/A-18 fighter jet launches from the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) while the ship sails in regional waters and supports enforcement of America’s 🇺🇸 steel wall blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 12, U.S. forces have redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and… pic.twitter.com/dH4BBshoTE
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 12, 2026
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the region, as Washington continues maritime operations aimed at restricting commercial and shipping activity linked to Iranian ports.
The measures have disrupted the movement of several commercial ships and raised concerns over the impact of the blockade on regional maritime trade and international shipping.
After negotiations with Iran failed to produce an agreement earlier this year, the United States adopted more aggressive measures, including a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic waterway is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, through which roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade passes, along with substantial volumes of liquefied natural gas and other key commodities such as fertilizers.
Iran will act ‘more aggressively’
Meanwhile, Iran’s political advisor Brigadier General Rasoul Sanaei-Rad has said Tehran will act more aggressively in the future, Fars news agency reported.
“We stood firm in the recent war and, God willing, we will stand firmer and more aggressively in a possible future war,” said Sanaei-Rad, who serves as political advisor in the office of the supreme leader.
Without openly mentioning the US, the official said Iran’s “enemy” was aiming to create internal divisions through economic pressure, but that its plan did not succeed.
Araghchi says US has ‘long miscalculated’ due to intelligence ‘failures’
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US has “long miscalculated” decisions due to poor intelligence, including in the Iran war.
In a post on X, the foreign minister warned that now the country was making “an ever bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz”.
The U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz.
Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful.
Allah is Great, Greater than ANY power on Earth. In Allah we trust.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 13, 2026
“Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful,” he wrote.
“Allah is great, greater than any power on earth. In Allah we trust.”
Iran rejects Trump claim of US control over Hormuz
Iran has also rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has full control of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that the strategic waterway remains blocked and will not be reopened until Tehran’s conditions are accepted.
Also Read: Iran Rejects Trump Claim of US Control over Hormuz
The Gulf Strait Authority, an Iranian body established to oversee the waterway, dismissed repeated statements by US officials that the Strait of Hormuz was no longer blocked.
In a statement posted on social media, the authority said American claims about lifting the blockade did not alter the reality on the ground.
It maintained that the Strait would remain closed until Iran’s conditions were accepted, without providing further details of those conditions in the statement.
