US blockade: Iranian ships not allowed to pass through Strait of Hormuz in nearly three days, 10 were repatriated

The U.S. military said on Thursday it had intercepted 10 ships trying to leave Iranian ports in the first 48 hours of the naval blockade, although maritime tracking data suggested some vessels may have initially crossed the Strait of Hormuz.“Since the U.S. blockade began on Monday, 10 ships have been turned around and zero ships have breached,” U.S. Central Command posted onAccording to the U.S. military, the Iranian-flagged cargo ship left Bandar Abbas Port, sailed out of the strait and transited along the Iranian coastline before being forced to turn back. Central Command earlier reported that nine ships had been diverted, followed by a tenth interception.However, maritime tracking data appears to complicate the U.S. account. Data on Tuesday showed that at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the strait, with some later changing course. The vessels were among at least seven Iran-linked vessels that passed through the waterway after the blockade came into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, maritime analytics firm Kpler said.U.S. officials insist the blockade is imposed outside the Gulf of Oman strait, meaning ships could pass through the chokepoint but still face interception later.The sweeping naval blockade, announced by the Trump administration after talks failed in Islamabad, aims to halt maritime trade related to Iran in an effort to increase pressure on Tehran. U.S. Central Command said it was “impartially targeting all ships of all nations” entering and leaving Iranian ports, and naval forces were prepared to enforce compliance. Tehran’s military has largely restricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy chokepoint, as regional tensions escalate since the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel broke out on February 28.However, diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the conflict, which is currently in a fragile ceasefire, may resume in Pakistan later this week, the New York Post reported, even as tensions continue to rise despite a blockade remaining in effect.