The U.S. military announced on Wednesday that it successfully intercepted nine oil tankers attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports.
“During the initial 48 hours of the U.S. blockade, no vessels have successfully bypassed American forces,” the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Furthermore, nine vessels complied with U.S. directives to turn back towards Iranian ports or coastal areas.”
Fox News has learned that all nine vessels in question were oil tankers. According to a senior U.S. defense official, none of these ships required boarding by U.S. forces to ensure compliance.
“The U.S. has officially declared a blockade of Iranian coastal ports, a legal measure,” a sailor announced in a CENTCOM-released message. “All vessels are advised to immediately return to port if setting sail or to cease transit to Iran if it is your next destination. Do not attempt to violate the blockade. Vessels en route to or from an Iranian port will be intercepted and possibly seized. Turn around and prepare for boarding. Non-compliance will be met with force, and the full strength of the U.S. Navy is prepared to enforce this order.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are actively participating in the blockade mission affecting Iranian ports.
A senior U.S. defense official also corroborated a Reuters report to Fox News on Wednesday, revealing that a U.S. destroyer intercepted two oil tankers attempting to depart from Iran on Tuesday.
A U.S. official told Reuters that the ships left Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman before being contacted by the U.S. warship through radio communication.
“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,” CENTCOM said in an earlier update. “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.”
“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.”
CENTCOM did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the reported interdiction of the oil tankers.
“U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets executing a blockade mission impacting Iranian ports. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran,” CENTCOM also said Tuesday. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 Sailors that are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations.”
Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in the United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper added in a statement that “a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East.”
A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
Cooper said an estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is supported by international trade by sea.
“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.
