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The US military has redirected 55 commercial vessels since resuming its naval blockade of Iran on July 14, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The command reported on Sunday that as of Aug. 9, CENTCOM forces have redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two to ensure compliance with the maritime blockade.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post, as well as multiple dispatches from TASS, all describe CENTCOM's enforcement of the blockade, though the reported number of redirected vessels varies by date. Al Jazeera, citing CENTCOM, said 12 commercial vessels had been redirected and two disabled for failing to comply, and released footage showing forces boarding one tanker and disabling another. The Jerusalem Post, quoting a CENTCOM statement from July 29, said 20 vessels had been redirected, with two disabled and two boarded, and noted that a CENTCOM graphic describes the operation as the "US Blockade of Iranian Ports," emphasizing that the blockade applies to vessels of any nationality, while other commercial vessels retain freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

TASS has issued a series of reports tracking the escalating figures. On July 20, TASS reported that one vessel had been disabled and seven redirected. By July 28, the figure had risen to 18 redirected, with two disabled and two boarded. On July 29 and July 30, TASS reported 20 and 24 redirected vessels respectively. Subsequent TASS dispatches recorded 30 redirected vessels as of July 31, 35 as of Aug. 2, 49 as of Aug. 6, 51 as of Aug. 7, and finally 55 as of Aug. 9. All TASS reports attribute the figures directly to statements issued by CENTCOM on the social network X.

Key Claims

  • CENTCOM said the US military has redirected 55 commercial vessels as of Aug. 9, with two vessels disabled and two boarded (TASS, Aug. 10).
  • CENTCOM reported redirecting 20 commercial vessels as of July 29, with two disabled and two boarded (Jerusalem Post).
  • CENTCOM reported redirecting 12 commercial vessels and disabling two for failing to comply (Al Jazeera).
  • The US resumed its naval blockade of Iran on July 14, as reported by TASS in multiple dispatches.
  • Al Jazeera reported that the US military disabled a tanker accused of attempting to breach the blockade and released footage of forces boarding one tanker and disabling another.
  • The Jerusalem Post reported that CENTCOM's operations involve aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, surveillance drones, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and embarked US Marines trained for maritime interdiction.
  • TASS reported on July 30 that a US Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft has been monitoring regional waters.
  • TASS reported on Aug. 1 that the US military had permitted nearly 30 ships to pass through the blockade for humanitarian aid.
  • Multiple TASS dispatches and the Jerusalem Post reported that more than 20 US ships are operating in the Middle East to enforce the blockade.