A US naval vessel intercepted two oil tankers trying to depart Iran, following the enactment of a blockade by President Donald Trump. The warship directed the tankers to reverse course after they had left Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman, communicating with them via radio. This incident sheds light on Trump’s initiative to block Iranian ports, aiming to compel Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for a significant portion of global oil trade.
The US blockade, involving over 10,000 troops, multiple warships, and numerous aircraft, is part of efforts to press Iran into complying with US demands for a peace agreement. Tensions between the US and Iran escalated after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, prompting Iran to retaliate by closing the strait and launching attacks in the Middle East.
A temporary truce between the US and Iran is set to expire soon, with both sides expressing willingness to engage in further talks. The US Central Command reported that the two tankers were among six commercial vessels instructed to return to an Iranian port, with no ships breaching the blockade since its implementation on Monday at 10 am in Washington.