Iran conflict 2026: CENTCOM reports US blockade has stopped Iranian sea trade

USS Tripoli, shown here, is one of the US shows conducting the blockade within the Strait of Hormuz. (US Navy)

The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz being conducted by US forces is stopping Iranian sea trade, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported.

CENTCOM had noted in a 12 April statement it would blockade all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports beginning on 13 April at 1000EDT.

“During the first 48 hours of the US blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past US forces,” CENTCOM said in a 15 April statement on X and Facebook. “More than 10,000 US sailors, marines, and airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports,” the command said.

“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade and six merchant vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM said.

On the evening of 15 April, CENTCOM also reported that on 14 April “an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the US blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline”. The command said guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) redirected the vessel, which then travelled back towards Iran.

“Ten vessels have now been turned around and zero ships have broken through since the start of the US blockade on Monday,” CENTCOM said. The vessels that “have complied with direction from US forces to turn around” returned “toward an Iranian port or coastal area”.