The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that no vessels successfully traversed the US Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on its first day. Six merchant ships adhered to commands from US authorities, turning back to Iranian ports located in the Gulf of Oman. This blockade aims to increase pressure on Iran, which has managed to export substantial amounts of oil—primarily to Asian markets—since hostilities escalated on February 28. Many of these exports seem to have utilised covert methods, allowing Iran a critical financial lifeline amidst ongoing sanctions.
To enforce this blockade, the US has mobilised approximately 100,000 military personnel—comprising sailors, marines, and air crew—alongside numerous warships and aircraft, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. CENTCOM stated that the blockade is enforced uniformly against all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal zones along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
US operations also aim to ensure the freedom of navigation for ships moving between non-Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. Early on the first day of the blockade, tankers approaching this strategic waterway turned back, although one vessel subsequently changed course and proceeded through.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has declared that Chinese tankers will be denied passage through the strait, implying significant restrictions on their oil supply. This assertion has drawn criticism from China, with officials labelling the US blockade as “dangerous and irresponsible.” A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concern that enhanced US military presence and targeted blockades could escalate tensions, challenge the delicate ceasefire in place, and endanger safe passage through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, the US Treasury Department is set to reinstate sanctions on Iranian oil, after previously lifting them during wartime to stabilise global oil markets, particularly when Iran had blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz. The US government has since shifted its approach, announcing its intention to exert “maximum pressure” on Iran through renewed economic measures.
This situation underscores a significant escalation in regional tensions, with military and economic strategies playing critical roles in the evolving dynamics of US-Iran relations.