U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on April 22, 2026, that U.S. forces have directed 31 vessels — the majority of them oil tankers — to turn around or return to port since the naval blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13, 2026.
“U.S. forces have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM posted on X.
Earlier the same day, CENTCOM had reported the number at 29 vessels and directly rebutted media claims that several commercial ships had evaded the blockade. The command stated that the Iranian-flagged tankers M/V Hero II and M/V Hedy remain anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran, after being intercepted earlier in the week, while the M/V Dorena is under escort by a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate the blockade.
“These reports are inaccurate,” CENTCOM said in the earlier post. “The U.S. military has global reach. American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond.”
The ongoing operation prohibits all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It involves more than 10,000 U.S. troops, 17+ warships (including aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, guided-missile destroyers, and littoral combat ships), and over 100 fighter, rotary wing, surveillance, and unmanned aircraft.
Most redirected vessels have complied with U.S. directions. The blockade remains actively enforced.