A US Navy destroyer on Tuesday intercepted two oil tankers trying to leave Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade aimed at putting pressure on Tehran, according to a US official cited by Reuters.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the two ships left the port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman, and the warship contacted them via radio and ordered them to return. It is not known if additional warnings have been issued.The incident marks the first phase of Washington’s imposition of the blockade, aimed at forcing Iran to end what US officials describe as an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies flow.The move comes after the collapse of talks aimed at ending hostilities in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel, which erupted on February 28 and is now in its second month, currently subject to a two-week ceasefire. Trump linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a temporary ceasefire agreement scheduled to expire next week. A US Central Command statement said six commercial ships complied with instructions to “return once again to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” adding that no ship had passed through the blockade since it began on Monday.
However, maritime tracking data indicates that at least three ships leaving Iranian ports were able to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite a naval blockade announced by the United States, although some ships later returned, according to Kpler data cited by AFP.The vessels identified include the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Christina, the Comoros-flagged bulk carrier Elpis, and the Argo Maris, which is said to have moved through the choke point after loading operations at Iranian ports.
The movements are also believed to be part of a broader group of at least seven Iran-linked vessels that have transited the strait after the blockade took effect on Monday.More than 10,000 American soldiers, more than a dozen warships and several aircraft are participating in the operation, according to the army. Washington says it will continue to guarantee freedom of navigation for ships that do not travel to and from Iran.But experts have urged caution about its effectiveness.
“We don’t know yet how effective it is. We’re still on day two,” said Noam Raydan of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noting that some ships linked to Iran are disrupting tracking systems.Analysts say the blockade could escalate tensions and provoke retaliation from Tehran, if it continues. This could also strain the fragile ceasefire and further destabilize regional security.Iranian threats to shipping have led to a rise in global oil prices by about 50%.
Nearly 5,000 people have been killed in hostilities, while thousands of US strikes have weakened Iran’s military infrastructure.However, analysts warn that Tehran remains a challenge for Washington, citing tougher leadership and a hidden stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Raydan warned that retaliation was still possible if pressure intensified, adding: “We are in a testing period.
