The US Navy has already intercepted 23 merchant ships leaving Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
“Since the blockade began, 23 ships have returned, following instructions from US forces“, the statement said.
As part of enforcing the blockade, US forces did not board the ships, CENTCOM noted.
The US military had previously said it was enforcing the blockade in regional waters but “not blocking the Strait of Hormuz“. CENTCOM added that the aircraft carrier “Abraham“ Lincoln“ passes through the Arabian Sea as the US blocks Iranian ports and coastline.
CNN previously reported that the US is blocking Iranian ports, not the Strait of Hormuz, so reports of ships passing through it cannot be considered a violation of the blockade.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by US warships, according to a statement from CENTCOM, began on April 13 after an order from US President Donald Trump. The US military said it was blocking the passage of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. The Pentagon said that “not a single vessel“ passed through the US military in the first 48 hours.