A U.S. destroyer on Tuesday interdicted two oil tankers trying to leave Iran, a U.S. official said, as part of the Trump administration’s blockade of Iranian ports.
The official told Reuters that the ships left the port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman before being approached by the US warship via radio communications. The official added that the tankers were among six ships that US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday were obeying orders from US forces to turn around and head back to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.
“More than 10,000 U.S. sailors, Marines and airmen, along with more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are conducting the mission to block ships entering and leaving Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said. “During the first 24 hours, no ships passed the US blockade and six merchant ships followed instructions from US forces to turn around and re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.”
“The blockade is enforced impartially against ships of all countries entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman,” it added. “US forces support freedom of navigation for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
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The U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that “U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers are among the assets conducting a blockade mission hitting Iranian ports.” (CENTCOM)
“U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers are among the assets conducting a blockade mission impacting Iranian ports. The blockade is enforced impartially against ships of all countries entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran,” CENTCOM said Tuesday. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 sailors who are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations.”
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FILE PHOTO: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam administration, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in the United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper added in a statement that “a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented while U.S. forces maintain their maritime superiority in the Middle East.”
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Cooper said an estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is supported by international maritime trade.
“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was imposed, US forces have completely halted economic seaborne trade to and from Iran,” he also said.
