US Says 130 Commercial Ships Redirected, 13 Destroyed in Iran Naval Blockade

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: The United States military says it has redirected 130 commercial vessels while enforcing its continuing naval blockade against Iran, as maritime tensions remain elevated around the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command said the 130th commercial vessel was redirected in the Middle East on October 5, marking the latest enforcement action in the months-long operation.

American forces resumed the blockade against vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports on July 14 under orders from US President Donald Trump.

Since then, US forces say they have redirected 130 commercial vessels and disabled three ships that refused to comply with American orders.

CENTCOM also said US forces had destroyed 13 commercial vessels during the past 12 weeks.

The US military said those vessels were either attempting to violate the blockade or were part of what Washington describes as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ multibillion-dollar shadow network.

The claims about the destroyed vessels and their alleged connections to the IRGC remain based on the US military’s account.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said American forces remained focused on enforcing the operation and warned that vessels attempting to breach the blockade would face a rapid response.

Commercial mariners operating around the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz have been advised to monitor maritime notices and maintain communication with US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge radio Channel 16.

The latest announcement highlights the continuing disruption to commercial shipping caused by the US-Iran conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, connecting Gulf energy exporters with international markets.

Shipping through the waterway has fallen sharply during periods of heightened military confrontation, while attacks on tankers and other commercial vessels have increased security and insurance risks for operators.

The blockade also forms part of Washington’s broader effort to restrict Iranian maritime trade and place economic pressure on Tehran.

Iran has previously rejected US attempts to restrict its oil exports and maritime activity, while tensions between Iranian and American forces have repeatedly raised fears of a wider confrontation around the Gulf.

The identities of all 130 redirected vessels have not been publicly disclosed.

Independent verification of each US enforcement action — particularly the circumstances surrounding the 13 vessels CENTCOM says were destroyed — is also not currently available.

The latest figures therefore represent official US military claims rather than a complete independently verified accounting of all vessels affected by the blockade.