U.S. Navy destroyers on Tuesday intercepted two oil tankers trying to leave Iran, just a day after the U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters quoted a U.S. official as saying the blockade was announced to put pressure on Tehran.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the ship had left chabahar port In the Gulf of Oman, warships contacted them via radio and instructed them to return. It was unclear whether additional warnings were issued.The incident marked the initial phase of a blockade by Washington aimed at forcing Iran to end what U.S. officials say is an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies flow.The move comes after the breakdown of talks aimed at ending hostilities in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. The conflict, which broke out on February 28 and is now in its second month, is under a two-week ceasefire. Trump has linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a temporary ceasefire that is set to expire next week. Six commercial ships followed instructions to “turn around and re-enter Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman,” a statement from U.S. Central Command said, adding that no ships had passed through the blockade since it began on Monday.However, maritime tracking data showed that at least three ships departing from Iranian ports managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz despite the U.S. declaration of a naval blockade, although some later turned back, according to Kepler data cited by AFP.The identified vessels include the Liberian-flagged bulker Christianna, the Comoros-flagged oil tanker Elpis and the bulker Argo Maris, which reportedly passed through the chokepoint after conducting cargo operations in an Iranian port. The activities are also believed to be part of a wider group of at least seven Iran-linked vessels that passed through the strait after the blockade came into effect on Monday.According to the military, the operation involved more than 10,000 US military personnel, a dozen warships and multiple aircraft. Washington said it would continue to ensure freedom of navigation for ships not traveling to and from Iran.However, experts urge caution about its effectiveness. “We don’t know yet how effective it is. We’re still in day two,” said Noam Reddan of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noting that some Iran-linked ships have disabled tracking systems.Analysts say if the blockade continues, it could escalate tensions and trigger retaliation from Tehran. It could also put pressure on a fragile ceasefire and further destabilize regional security.Iran’s threat to shipping has caused global oil prices to rise by about 50%. Some 5,000 people have been killed in hostilities, while thousands of U.S. attacks have crippled Iran’s military infrastructure.However, analysts warn that Tehran still poses a challenge to Washington, citing its more assertive leadership and its hidden stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Redan warned that retaliation was still possible if pressure intensified, adding: “We are in a testing period.
