US Warship Turns Back Tankers as Iran Blockade Begins

Mintesinot Nigussie

A US naval vessel has ordered two oil tankers to reverse course after they attempted to leave Iran, marking an early enforcement action under a blockade introduced by President Donald Trump. The destroyer intercepted the vessels on Tuesday after they departed from Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman.

The ships were contacted by radio and instructed to return. The incident comes a day after Washington launched the blockade, aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command said earlier that six commercial vessels had complied with orders to turn back towards Iranian ports, adding that no ship had crossed the blockade line since it came into force on Monday at 10am Washington time.

The restrictions form part of a broader effort by the US administration to push Iran to accept conditions tied to ending a conflict involving the US and Israel. Among the demands is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington has also linked to a ceasefire agreement due to expire within days.

Early signs of enforcement have been mixed. Noam Raydan, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said vessel tracking data indicated at least one tanker had changed course following the announcement.

Overall, the US warship turning back tankers marks the first reported enforcement action under the new Iran blockade, highlighting the immediate operational impact on maritime traffic in the region.