JUST IN: US Thwarts Rogue Oil Tankers Attempting To Break Blockade

The U.S. military says its blockade of Iranian ports is already choking off maritime traffic, turning back multiple oil tankers and stopping all ship movement in and out of the country by sea.

U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that nine vessels, all oil tankers, were forced to turn around in the first 48 hours of the operation.

“During the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces. Additionally, 9 vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area,” U.S. Central Command wrote on X.

A senior U.S. defense official told Fox News that none of the ships needed to be boarded, and that all complied after being contacted by U.S. forces.

Officials also confirmed that a U.S. Navy destroyer intercepted two oil tankers on Tuesday that were attempting to leave Iran. According to Reuters, the ships had departed Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman before being contacted via radio by an American warship and ordered to reverse course.

U.S. BLOCKADE FULLY IMPLEMENTED. pic.twitter.com/OTYO8LSANO

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 15, 2026

The aggressive enforcement follows an earlier update from CENTCOM detailing the scale of the operation now underway in the region.

“More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports,” the command said. “During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.”

CENTCOM stressed the blockade applies to all vessels, regardless of nationality.

“The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” it added. “U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

The command did not immediately respond to additional questions about the interdictions.

U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are playing a central role in the operation, officials said, with each ship carrying crews of more than 300 sailors trained for both offensive and defensive maritime missions.

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the blockade is now fully in effect, and already delivering results.

“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East,” he said.

Cooper underscored the economic stakes, noting Iran relies heavily on sea-based trade.

“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,” he also said.

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