U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) pushed back hard on Wednesday against media claims that several commercial ships slipped past the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.
In a statement posted on X on April 22, CENTCOM said U.S. forces have turned away or returned 29 vessels since the blockade began in mid-April.
The command directly addressed reports naming three ships, the Hero II, Hedy, and Dorena, as examples of successful evasions. “These reports are inaccurate,” CENTCOM stated.
Claims of Iranian-flagged tankers evading the blockade are disputed
The command said the Iranian-flagged tankers Hero II and Hedy never made it through any supposed flotilla carrying millions of barrels of oil. Instead, U.S. forces intercepted both ships earlier this week. They now sit anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran.
“The Dorena attempted to breach the blockade but failed,” CENTCOM added. It remains under escort from a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean.
The statement came after news outlets and shipping trackers reported that more than two dozen Iran-linked vessels, including oil tankers, appeared to have bypassed the restrictions. Some accounts pointed to ships turning off tracking signals or hugging coastlines to avoid detection.
CENTCOM dismissed those accounts. It stressed that the blockade applies to all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
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The operation started on April 13 at 10 a.m. Eastern time, days after U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan broke down without a deal.
President Donald Trump had threatened stronger action if Iran did not meet U.S. demands on its nuclear program and other issues. The first round of talks collapsed after 21 hours of negotiations, with both sides blaming each other.
The blockade aims to cut off Iran’s ability to export oil and import goods by sea. CENTCOM said the measure applies equally to ships from any nation. It does not block vessels simply passing through the Strait of Hormuz to or from other countries.
U.S. forces have shown they can act far from the immediate Gulf area. The command said American forces operate across the Middle East and beyond to enforce the rules.
” The U.S. military has global reach,” the statement read. “American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond.”
Also Read: Trump Reveals Millions Iran is Losing Daily as Strait of Hormuz Standoff Deepens
Earlier CENTCOM updates put the number of turned-back vessels at 27 or 28. The latest figure of 29 paints a clear picture of continued operations over the past day.
One recent incident involved an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel called the MV Touska, which, on April 19, a U.S. destroyer fired warning shots and then disabled the ship’s engine room after it ignored orders to stop. Marines boarded the vessel in the Arabian Sea.
Iran has called the blockade illegal and an act of piracy. Iranian state media reported that some tankers, including one named Sili City, reached home waters despite U.S. threats.
Shipping data from firms such as Lloyd’s List suggested that at least 26 Iran-linked ships may have moved oil or gas through the area.
CENTCOM and Pentagon clear the air
CENTCOM and the Pentagon called such reports false. A Pentagon official told reporters the claims from shipping intelligence sources did not hold up.
The blockade has caused concern about global oil supplies. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices jumped after the operation began.
So far, no major clashes at sea have been reported beyond the Touska incident. U.S. officials say forces issue warnings before taking action and act in a “deliberate, professional, and proportional” way.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Middle East remains tense. Iran has not agreed to new talks under the current pressure. U.S. officials say the blockade will stay in place until Tehran meets key conditions.
