US Halts Nine Oil Tankers in Strategic Move to Enforce Sanctions on Iranian Ports

The United States military announced on Wednesday that it successfully prevented nine oil tankers from breaching a blockade imposed on Iranian ports. This strategic maneuver is part of broader efforts to enforce a maritime embargo on Iran’s coastal shipping routes.

According to a statement from the U.S. Central Command shared on X, all vessels attempting to navigate past the blockade have been intercepted. Within the first 48 hours of this operation, nine ships complied with orders from American forces to reverse their course and head back toward Iranian waters.

Sources from Fox News confirmed that these vessels were all oil tankers. A senior defense official assured that none of these ships required direct intervention or boarding by U.S. personnel to comply with the directive.

The U.S. has officially declared a blockade on Iranian ports along its coastlines, implementing this measure as a lawful action. In a stern warning broadcast by CENTCOM, a sailor advised all vessels to return to port if they were en route to Iran, emphasizing the seriousness of the blockade. “Do not attempt to breach the blockade,” the message cautioned. “Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure if they are transiting to or from an Iranian port. If you do not comply, we are prepared to use force. The United States Navy is fully prepared to enforce this blockade.”

As part of the blockade mission, U.S. Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that guided-missile destroyers from the U.S. Navy are actively involved in this operation, impacting the flow of maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports.

A senior U.S. defense official also confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday a report from Reuters that a U.S. destroyer interdicted two oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran on Tuesday. 

A U.S. official told Reuters that the ships left Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman before being contacted by the U.S. warship through radio communication. 

“More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in an earlier update. “During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.” 

“The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” it added. “U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

CENTCOM did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the reported interdiction of the oil tankers. 

“U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets executing a blockade mission impacting Iranian ports. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran,” CENTCOM also said Tuesday. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 Sailors that are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations.” 

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in the United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper added in a statement that “a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East.”

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

Cooper said an estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is supported by international trade by sea. 

“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” he also said.