CENTCOM: 125 commercial ships redirected to enforce naval blockade on Iranian ports

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have redirected 125 commercial ships to ensure enforcement of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, as Al Jazeera reports.

In a post on the social network X, CENTCOM showed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “USS George H.W. Bush” sailing in the Arabian Sea to enforce the blockade. Iran has stated that the American blockade harms the international economy.

The blockade is part of Washington’s economic pressure campaign, aimed at cutting off Iran’s oil exports. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that flows through Hormuz are approaching pre-war levels, while data from the company Kpler show that Middle East oil exports reached about 80% of pre-conflict levels in September.

Meanwhile, Iran has conditioned the reopening of Hormuz on lifting the blockade, releasing frozen funds and easing oil sanctions — conditions that the Trump administration has rejected.