According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command announced that vessels sanctioned by Washington “will now be subject to boarding, search and seizure under the American blockade of Iranian ports.”
“In addition to enforcing the blockade, all Iranian vessels, vessels with active OFAC sanctions, and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search,” the advisory said, referring to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure,” WSJ reported.
According to the notice, contraband materials include “weapons, ammunition, [and] combat aircraft, additionally affirming that “Petroleum products and lubricants are conditional contraband due to their essential role in military operations and their contribution to Iran’s war-sustaining economy.”
Seatrade Maritime News initially reported the announcement, WSJ confirmed.
U.S. CENTCOM Confirms Successful Blockade Operations
More than 54 hours into the U.S. Naval blockade, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that 10 ships had been turned around since the beginning of the impasse.
“Ten vessels have now been turned around, and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday,” CENTCOM announced on X, after sharing that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship tried to dodge the impasse “after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline.” “The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran,” CENTCOM added.
Gen. Dan Caine Affirms the Blockade Applies to Every Vessel
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, affirmed that the U.S. blockade applies to “all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports.”
“The U.S. action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,” Gen. Caine stated, revealing that amid the blockade, the joint force will actively go after any Iranian-flagged ship or any ship attempting to supply material support to the Islamic Republic, WSJ reported. “More than 10,000 sailors, marines and airmen, along with more than a dozen ships and dozens of aircraft, were executing that mission, Caine added.”
