US Central Command announced the renewal of the naval blockade on Iran, ordering vessels to stay clear of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of fighter jets are now deployed across the Middle East, describing the forces as 'alert, lethal, and ready.'
US Central Command confirmed tonight that the naval blockade on Iran took effect at 23:00 Jerusalem time, ordering vessels to avoid Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. The statement describes more than 20 Navy warships and hundreds of fighter jets now deployed across the Middle East, calling them "alert, lethal, and ready." The confirmation arrives after a series of reports throughout the evening that tracked the gradual imposition of the maritime siege.
The Zioneer first reported on the impending blockade at 21:52 Jerusalem, when CENTCOM ordered the siege to begin at 23:00. At 22:33 Jerusalem, multiple updates were published: an initial report of a new wave of strikes, followed by assessments that the naval blockade would be renewed within half an hour, and then reports from N12 that the blockade was already in effect. An assessment published at 23:06 Jerusalem indicated the siege had taken effect, and at 23:08 Jerusalem, the US military formally announced the renewal with specific force numbers — the same figures later confirmed by CENTCOM.
The blockade is the latest phase in the US military campaign to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which has included multiple waves of strikes against Iranian forces over the past weeks, as The Zioneer has reported. The campaign follows sustained Iranian missile fire targeting US warships in the strait, and diplomatic efforts that collapsed, as security analyst Yair Goldblatt noted in an assessment at 22:33 Jerusalem.
The extent of any Iranian response and the immediate impact on shipping remain to be seen. No official confirmation of vessel interceptions or Iranian reactions has been reported so far.
8 developments
- DevelopingThe Zioneer: Over 20 US Navy warships patrolling Middle East, CENTCOM projects power near Iran
- StrongUS maintains 50,000 troops across Middle East on two aircraft carriers
- ConfirmedUS military: renewed naval blockade of Iran now in effect
- StrongCENTCOM says it has interdicted 9 vessels and turned back 136 more since naval siege on Iran began
Source and signal
- Internal intake