U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces have forced 48 commercial vessels to alter their course since the resumption of the naval blockade on Iranian ports. Additionally, two ships were disabled and two others were seized.
Publishing the figures on X on Wednesday, August 5, CENTCOM affirmed that the United States is continuing to enforce the naval blockade against the Islamic Republic.
The military command also released an image of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet conducting aerial refuelling during a patrol flight over Middle Eastern waters.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of the naval blockade on Iranian ports on July 14, following the expiration of a temporary ceasefire, barring the entry and exit of all vessels linked to the Islamic Republic. The order was issued in response to continued strikes by the Iranian regime against civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Monday, August 3, Trump stated that discussions with the Islamic Republic were ongoing but asserted that, until a deal or what he termed “total surrender” by Tehran is achieved, no vessel bound for Iran will be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without prior U.S. authorisation.
