WASHINGTON: The United States (US) Central Command (CENTCOM) has said American naval forces redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the US-imposed blockade on Iran, underscoring Washington’s continued efforts to enforce maritime restrictions amid heightened regional tensions.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the blockade remained “in full effect” as of July 25 and that US naval forces had intercepted multiple vessels seeking to transit towards Iran in violation of the restrictions.
The U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect. As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn’t comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.
Earlier today, U.S. forces completed a verification… pic.twitter.com/eyp1N2B9sO
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2026
According to the statement, 12 commercial vessels were redirected, while two ships that allegedly failed to comply with repeated instructions were disabled. CENTCOM also said two vessels were boarded to verify compliance with the blockade measures.
The command disclosed that US forces earlier completed a verification boarding of the Comoros-flagged oil tanker M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea. Following the inspection, the vessel was cleared to continue its voyage.
CENTCOM further stated that US forces disabled the Mozambique-flagged tanker M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman on July 24 after its crew allegedly attempted to breach the blockade on multiple occasions and ignored repeated warnings. The military said the vessel was no longer proceeding towards Iran.
Reaffirming its operational posture, CENTCOM said US forces remained “highly vigilant” and prepared to respond to any attempts to violate the maritime restrictions.
The statement comes as tensions in the Gulf and surrounding waters remain elevated, with the United States continuing to enforce measures aimed at restricting maritime traffic linked to Iran.
