US Destroyer Stops Two Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

On the second day of a new US naval blockade on Iran, a US Navy destroyer halted two oil tankers that tried to leave Iranian waters, according to a US official. The move followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of measures meant to pressure Tehran over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military said the operation involves more than 10,000 personnel, over a dozen warships and several aircraft. A US Central Command statement reported that six merchant ships obeyed orders to "turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman", adding that no vessels had crossed the blockade since it started on Monday.

Intercepted tankers and Chabahar route under US naval blockade

The intercepted tankers had sailed from Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman, the anonymous US official told Reuters. The destroyer contacted the ships by radio and instructed them to return to Iran. It is unclear whether any additional warnings were issued. Washington says the wider effort aims to counter what US officials call Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about one-fifth of global oil.

Maritime tracking data challenges account of US naval blockade

Shipping data paints a different picture of the US naval blockade’s impact on traffic. Maritime tracking firm Kpler, cited by AFP, recorded at least three vessels leaving Iranian ports and crossing the Strait of Hormuz after the blockade began, though some later turned back. These included bulk carrier Christianna, flagged in Liberia, tanker Elpis under the Comoros flag, and bulk carrier Argo Maris.

The three ships were part of a larger group of at least seven Iran-linked vessels that moved through the chokepoint after Monday, despite US naval blockade orders. Their movements followed cargo operations at Iranian ports. Analysts note that some crews may have tested the limits of US enforcement, while others appeared to retreat once the scale of the deployment became clear.

Iran–US–Israel conflict and ceasefire pressure from US naval blockade

The US naval blockade comes as the Iran–US–Israel conflict, which began on February 28, enters its second month. Hostilities are currently paused under a two-week ceasefire. Trump has linked any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to that temporary truce, which is due to expire next week, tying maritime access directly to negotiations over fighting.

Analysts warn that a prolonged US naval blockade could heighten tensions and invite a response from Tehran. They say it might strain the fragile ceasefire and unsettle regional security. Iranian threats to shipping have already pushed global oil prices about 50% higher. Around 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far, while thousands of US strikes have damaged Iranian military sites.

Experts are cautious about judging how strong the US naval blockade actually is at this early stage. Noam Raydan of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said, "We just don't know yet how effective it is. We are still in day two," and noted that some Iran-linked ships switch off tracking systems, making movements harder to follow.

Despite heavy strikes, analysts argue that Tehran still presents a serious challenge for Washington, pointing to a more hardline leadership and a hidden stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Raydan said retaliation is likely if pressure grows further, adding, "We're in the testing period." Many observers now see the next days of the US naval blockade as critical for both regional stability and global oil flows.