The US Central Command has claimed that a full-scale naval blockade against Iran is now fully effective, asserting control over key sea routes in the Middle East.
In a statement, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said US forces shut down maritime trade to and from Iranian ports within 36 hours of launching the operation.
“Nearly 90 percent of Iran’s economy depends on international sea trade. Shortly after the blockade began, we halted all such maritime activity,” he said.
CENTCOM added that US Navy guided-missile destroyers are enforcing the blockade, targeting all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, regardless of nationality.
The command noted that each destroyer carries more than 300 trained personnel capable of conducting both offensive and defensive maritime operations.
Earlier, CENTCOM reported that over 10,000 US personnel—including Navy, Marine, and Air Force members—are involved in the mission. The operation includes more than a dozen warships and multiple fighter aircraft.
According to CENTCOM, no vessel breached the blockade within the first 24 hours. Six commercial ships complied with US directives and returned to Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.
The blockade covers Iranian ports along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. However, CENTCOM said it is maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for ships not bound for Iran.
The move marks a sharp escalation in US-Iran tensions and could significantly affect global trade and regional stability.
