United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday, July 15, that 17 hours after resuming the naval blockade of Iranian ports, US forces intercepted and redirected two commercial vessels attempting to enter Iranian waters.
In its statement, CENTCOM noted that since the reinstatement of the blockade, US forces had turned back two commercial ships attempting to breach the restrictions. It added that the military remains fully prepared and continues to monitor enforcement of the blockade.
The naval blockade of Iranian ports was resumed by US forces in the Middle East at 11:30 p.m. Tehran time on Tuesday, July 14.
The Donald Trump administration first imposed the naval blockade shortly after a ceasefire was declared in April this year, a move that led to a dramatic drop in Iranian oil exports. However, the blockade was lifted following the signing of a memorandum between Tehran and Washington on June 14.
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday, July 13, that Iran would once again be placed under a naval blockade following Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacks on several vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
