The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that its forces have redirected 100 commercial ships over the past 60 days as part of the maritime blockade on Iranian ports, dubbed Operation "Steel Wall."
In a statement issued via platform 'X', CENTCOM noted that its forces have "redirected 100 commercial vessels during the past sixty days since the United States resumed enforcing the Steel Wall blockade on Iran."
It was further stated that "no ship could pass through the blockade area without obtaining permission from U.S. forces."
CENTCOM affirmed that the American personnel assigned to the operation remain on full alert.
100 Ships in Two Months
American figures highlight the scope of the naval operations linked to the blockade, with an average of nearly five ships being redirected every three days over the past two months.
The U.S. blockade aims to prevent ships from reaching or departing Iranian ports, part of Washington's efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran and cut off a portion of its revenue from maritime trade.
CENTCOM's statements indicate that U.S. forces enforce a system of transit authorization for ships in the blockade area, affirming that no ship is allowed to pass without prior approval.
Strait of Hormuz and the Blockade
The imposition of the naval blockade comes amid widening military escalation between the United States and Iran, after Tehran closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran in late February.
The closure of the strait and subsequent military escalation led to widespread disruptions in maritime and energy movements, turning sea passages in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea into significant battlefronts between Washington and Tehran.
Through its blockade on Iranian ports, the United States seeks to intensify pressure on the Iranian economy and block the movement of ships to and from Iran's harbors, while Tehran insists on using its maritime channels in countering U.S. pressures.
CENTCOM's announcement of redirecting 100 ships provides a new indicator of the scale of U.S. operations in the region two months into the resumed blockade.