Diyar Guldogan
15 April 2026•Update: 15 April 2026
US forces have “completely halted” maritime trade to and from Iran, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday as a blockade continues.
"In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea," Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.
His remarks came after CENTCOM began on Monday a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
The command, which is responsible for military operations in the Middle East, said the blockade is being "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations" entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
"CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," it said.
The blockade followed rare direct talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend aimed at ending the war that began on Feb. 28, but the negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
Earlier Tuesday, CENTCOM said that during the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade and six merchant vessels complied with directions from US forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a US official, reported that US naval forces intercepted eight oil tankers entering or leaving Iranian ports since the start of the blockade.
