Two days into the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports, the operation is succeeding despite some stories of ships running the blockade; see CENTCOM Starts the Iranian Blockade Monday – Here Are the Rules and What to Look For – RedState. U.S. Central Command has reported ten instances of ships being turned back from leaving Iranian ports or entering the Strait of Hormuz en route to Iran.
“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, the command’s top officer. “In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”
Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is… pic.twitter.com/EUnwhwYiDv
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026
There are some other interceptions.
U.S. officials have also provided details of early enforcement actions. A Navy destroyer contacted two tankers leaving the Iranian port of Chabahar and ordered them to turn around, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation. Both vessels complied.
On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command reported that the destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that had tried to evade the U.S. blockade after transiting Hormuz along Iran’s coastline from Bandar Abbas, Iran. “Ten vessels have now been turned around and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday,” CENTCOM said.
The blockade is being carried out by a large U.S. force, with more than 10,000 personnel, over a dozen warships, and dozens of aircraft deployed across the region, according to the military.
The measures target ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, while U.S. officials say traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to other destinations remains permitted. Even so, vessel movements in the area have slowed sharply as shipowners assess the risks.
Tracking data shows several ships have delayed or reversed course near the approaches to the strait in recent days.
The sanctioned tanker Rich Starry (IMO: 9773301) reversed course in the Gulf of Oman after traversing the Iranian-controlled route of Strait of Hormuz and is now anchored off Iran after failing to proceed. At the same time, two sanctioned VLCCs, Alicia (IMO: 9281695) and RHN (IMO 9208215), have entered the Persian Gulf empty and may load Iranian crude, according to tracking data shared by TankerTrackers.
One crude carrier has also made it through the strait under the new conditions. The Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I (IMO: 9759824), tracked by MarineTraffic, entered the Persian Gulf after waiting offshore for nearly two days and is heading to Iraq. The vessel also used the Iranian-controlled route hugging Iran’s coastline.
This is how ships potentially trying to run the blockade are greeted.
U.S. naval vessels are on patrol in the Gulf of Oman as CENTCOM continues to execute a U.S. blockade on ships entering and departing Iranian ports. U.S. forces are present, vigilant, and ready to ensure compliance. pic.twitter.com/dnHR2oz0ZN
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026
“The U.S. has announced a formal blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas. This is a legal action. All vessels are advised to immediately return to port if leaving and discontinue transit to Iran if that is your next port of call. Do not attempt to breach the blockade. Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure transiting to or from an Iranian port. Turn around or prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The whole of the United States Navy is ready to force compliance. Out.”
So far, no one has felt inclined to challenge the “we will use force” warning.
The Iranians aren’t all that happy. Not only are their ports blockaded, but they have been forced to suspend their export of petrochemicals after an Israeli air strike took out a major refining facility a week ago; see Iran Announces Blockade of Its Own Petrochemical Industry – RedState. The fact that they no longer have a navy or air force doesn’t stop them from talking smack.
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian official and military adviser to the Supreme Leader, said on Wednesday US warships in the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted, according to remarks in a video statement in which he warned American naval forces were “under our missile launchers.”… pic.twitter.com/DjcASY44AB
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) April 15, 2026
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian official and military adviser to the Supreme Leader, said on Wednesday US warships in the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted, according to remarks in a video statement in which he warned American naval forces were “under our missile launchers.”
“The launchers have most likely been moved by our brothers and are now aimed at the Abraham Lincoln and all American warships. They are all under our launchers now and we will sink them all. We will not allow a single one to escape us. A ceasefire, normally, should be the first step after a series of agreements. That is why I do not accept this as a ceasefire. This is silence,” Rezaei said in an interview with official media.
Sometimes I get the feeling that the entire regime leadership is just one guy who changes uniforms but otherwise looks the same and says the same stuff.
This is just more of the detachment from reality that permeates the Iranian leadership. They’re finally fighting a force that is not unarmed men and women and getting curb-stomped, and all they have are empty, childish threats. No one is afraid of them or their missiles or their sheep…well, maybe the sheep.
For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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