Several ships appeared to transit the Strait of Hormuz in the first day of a U.S.-imposed blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, though U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said none had passed the blockade.
The blockade began after hostilities escalated on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran. CENTCOM said it was enforcing the operation “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.”
The New York Times, citing Kpler, reported that the Liberia-flagged cargo ship Christianna exited the Persian Gulf on Monday night after leaving Bandar Imam Khomeini. It said the ship was not carrying cargo. The newspaper also reported that Elpis, a methanol carrier previously sanctioned by the United States under the name Chamtang, crossed the strait around the time the blockade began after being at the Iranian port of Bushehr.
It was unclear whether those ships moved during a grace period, had permission to pass, or bypassed the blockade.
CENTCOM said on X that 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.” It said more than 10,000 U.S. sailors, Marines, and airmen, along with more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, were involved.
The Washington Post reported that U.S. naval forces were operating in the Gulf of Oman rather than near Iranian ports or inside the strait, citing officials who said ships were intercepted after leaving Iranian facilities and clearing the waterway.