Iran’s blockade stops 13 ships near the Strait of Hormuz

The US Navy has turned away 13 ships since the blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman began more than 24 hours ago, the Pentagon said Thursday.

After this, President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday. complaining Tehran has not agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of its conditions for agreeing to the two-week ceasefire currently in effect.

The effort to pressure Iran comes after the initial round of US-Iran peace talks failed over the weekend. The US continued to signal optimism on Wednesday about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic end to the war that began on February 28.

“The U.S. actions are a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine said at a press briefing Thursday morning.

Trump had announced on Sunday that America would do this block the strait itself, before US Central Command later clarified the scope of enforcement.

“This applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading to or from Iranian ports,” Cain specified on Thursday.

The U.S. military is also actively pursuing “any Iranian-flagged ship or any ship attempting to provide material support to Iran” in other areas, Cain said — including law-breaking vessels known as “Dark Fleet” vessels.

Kane said that when blockade ships approach, the Navy broadcasts a warning: “Do not attempt to break the blockade. Ships coming to or from Iranian ports will be boarded for interdiction and seizure. Turn back or prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force.”

“This is a finely tuned machine that has been practiced many times and has been executed 13 times since the blockade began,” Kane said.

“Those 13 ships have made the wise choice to return and we have continued this blockade,” he said. He said the army has not had to board any ship yet.