WASHINGTON — The US military has confirmed that two commercial vessels were redirected after attempting to enter Iranian ports following the resumption of Washington’s naval blockade against Iran.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces intercepted and redirected the ships within 17 hours of reinstating the blockade.
“Since restarting the naval blockade against Iranian ports, US forces have redirected two commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade,” CENTCOM said, adding that American forces remain on high alert and are prepared to continue enforcing the restrictions.
The renewed blockade follows a fresh wave of US military strikes launched Tuesday against Iranian targets. According to CENTCOM, the operations are intended to weaken Iran’s ability to conduct attacks on commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper accused Tehran of escalating regional tensions by targeting civilian maritime traffic. He said Iran had attacked seven commercial vessels over the past week, resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including crew members who were killed, injured or remain missing.
President Donald Trump said the military campaign would continue unless Iran returns to negotiations. He warned that US forces could expand their operations next week by targeting critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if diplomatic efforts fail.
The latest developments mark another escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns over maritime security and the stability of global shipping routes through the Gulf region.
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