The United States Navy has turned back 13 ships since its Iranian port blockade started more than 24 hours ago, according to the Pentagon.
President Donald Trump announced the blockade earlier this week after complaining Iran has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which was one of his conditions for agreeing to the two-week ceasefire that is currently in effect.
The U.S. has continued to mount pressure on Iran after failed peace talks over the weekend.
Despite this, the U.S. continues to remain optimistic about the prospect of reaching a diplomatic end to the war, which began on 28 February.
“The U.S. action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine noted at a press briefing Thursday morning.
While Trump said the U.S. would blockade the strait itself, the U.S. Central Command later clarified the scope of enforcement.
It “applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports”, Caine specified Thursday.
U.S. forces are also actively pursuing “any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran” in other areas — including lawbreaking ships known as “dark fleet” vessels, Caine said.
Caine said that when blockaded ships approach, the Navy transmits a warning telling the ships to turn around or risk being boarded with force.
“It’s a finely tuned machine rehearsed multiple times and executed now 13 times since the blockade has began,” Caine said.
He also added that the military hasn’t had to board any ships yet.
