US forces have turned back 21 vessels since the start of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday, Anadolu reports.
“Guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) patrols the Arabian Sea, April 17, as U.S. forces enforce the naval blockade on ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X.
It added that “since commencement of the blockade, 21 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return to Iran.”
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war against Iran began Feb. 28, and a US naval blockade announced on April 13.
READ: Strait of Hormuz back to ‘previous state’ under ‘control of armed forces,’ says Iran, citing ongoing US blockade
About 20% of global oil supply passes through the strait daily, and heightened insecurity has driven up oil prices as well as shipping and insurance costs.
Iran on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, in line with the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon that took effect Thursday midnight, but along a determined route.
US President Donald Trump said the naval blockade would “remain in full force” until “our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” meaning when a peace deal is signed.
READ: Trump says US will get Iran’s nuclear dust ‘in a much more unfriendly form’ if deal fails
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