By Paul Burkhardt May 23, 2026 (Bloomberg) – The US military has stopped 100 commercial ships during its six-week blockade of Iranian ports, according to Central Command. The operation, which involves over 200 aircraf...
By Paul Burkhardt
May 23, 2026 (Bloomberg) – The US military has stopped 100 commercial ships during its six-week blockade of Iranian ports, according to Central Command.
The operation, which involves over 200 aircraft and warships, including two carrier strike groups and several guided-missile destroyers, began enforcing the blockade on April 13. This action targets vessels from all countries that are entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, which includes all Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as stated by CENTCOM in a social media post on Saturday.
According to Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, the blockade has significantly impacted Iran's economy. The blockade has also caused four ships to become disabled and allowed 26 humanitarian aid vessels to pass through.
Commercial shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz has mostly come to a halt since the conflict began. Recently, only a few ships – mainly those linked to Iran – have been able to navigate through this strategic waterway located to the west of the US blockade, as per ship-tracking data from Bloomberg. Ships connected to Iran that enter or exit the Gulf may be turning off their automated tracking signals to avoid detection, making it more challenging to monitor shipping movements in real time.