CENTCOM: 12 commercial vessels redirected and one disabled since the naval blockade of Iran resumed

U.S. Central Command said that since resuming its naval blockade of Iran nine days ago, it has redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one, to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. The figures were released late on Saturday, 25 July 2026.

The blockade was first imposed in April 2026 and, after a pause, was reinstated in the second half of July. CENTCOM had previously reported smaller counts of diverted vessels, so the new tally points to tighter enforcement.

For Iran's market, a tightening of sea lanes feeds directly into freight costs, vessel insurance, imports of essential goods and export revenue, and has been one of the main drivers of currency volatility and global oil prices in recent weeks.