The US military said it has redirected 83 commercial vessels as part of its naval blockade against Iran, while disabling three and boarding two others.
In a post on X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the figures were recorded as of August 30, as the USS Delbert D Black operated in the Arabian Sea, enforcing the blockade.
The US resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas in July after an earlier blockade that ran from April to June. CENTCOM said the measure targets vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports, while allowing other maritime traffic to continue.
The blockade comes amid the wider US-Iran conflict and escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. Centcom has also carried out strikes against Iranian military capabilities linked to threats to commercial shipping. –Agencies
