Over 10,000 U.S. service members involved in blockade of Iran ports, CENTCOM says

Over 10,000 U.S. service members are executing the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports, according to U.S. Central Command, which said no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours.

The blockade of Iran’s ports and a partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for shipments of oil, fertilizer and other vital goods, began at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.

The U.S. military said Tuesday morning that six merchant vessels “complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.”

“The blockade is being enforced 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,” CENTCOM said. “U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

The U.S. service members who are carrying out the mission include sailors, Marines and airmen. More than a dozen warships and over 100 surveillance and fighter aircraft are involved, according to the military.