The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has now redirected 136 vessels and disabled nine, marking a sharp escalation in enforcement activity that began in mid-April and shows no signs of slowing down.
The numbers tell a story of rapidly intensifying pressure. On May 22, CENTCOM had redirected 97 vessels. By June 7, that figure climbed to 132 with six disabled ships. Now, just days later, the count has jumped again.
How the blockade unfolded
US Central Command initiated the naval blockade on April 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET. The action followed weeks of escalating tensions after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that began in late February 2026.
The stated goal is straightforward: cut off Iran’s illicit oil exports and prevent sanctions evasion. US naval forces are intercepting commercial vessels bound for Iranian ports, redirecting compliant ships and disabling those that aren’t.
