CENTCOM: America has so far rerouted 133 commercial vessels as part of Iran's blockade

CENTCOM: America has so far rerouted 133 commercial vessels as part of Iran's blockade

US Central Command, CENTCOM, says US forces have rerouted 133 merchant vessels as of October 9 to enforce what Washington calls an "iron blockade" on Iran. At the same time, CENTCOM released a photo of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter taking off from the deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones.

Following the collapse of the understandings between Washington and Tehran, America reimposed the blockade on Iranian ports on July 14. The stated goal of this move is to prevent the movement of vessels that the US believes violate the restrictions imposed on Iran. At the same time, Washington has stepped up pressure on Iran's oil transport network, imposing new sanctions this week against individuals, networks, and 17 vessels involved in the transport of Iranian oil and oil products. The number of vessels CENTCOM says have changed routes has more than doubled in the past two months; on August 8, the command announced the number was 53.

These developments come at a time when tensions surrounding shipping in the region continue, and vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reached its lowest level in over two months in recent days.