CENTCOM: 130 commercial ships rerouted since resumption of blockade on Iranian ports

Washington, Oct 5 (KUNA) -- The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday the rerouting of 130 commercial vessels as part of the strict enforcement of the ongoing U.S. naval blockade on Iran. In a statement, CENTCOM said that U.S. forces had altered the course of 130 commercial ships and detained three vessels that refused to comply with orders through October 5. The statement confirmed that over the past 12 weeks, U.S. forces had destroyed 13 commercial ships that were violating the blockade or were part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ shadow fleet network, valued at billions of dollars.

For his part, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized in the statement that the U.S. military is intensely focused on enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports, stressing that U.S. forces will act swiftly against any vessels attempting to breach the blockade.

Cooper recently stated in an operational update posted on the X platform that U.S. forces had helped ensure the safe passage of more than one billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months. He added that while U.S. forces continue to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe,” they are simultaneously preventing Iran from exporting any oil shipments from its ports, affirming that the naval blockade on Iran remains “effective and strong” and is achieving its objectives. (End) A.M.M. / M.A.H.A.