CENTCOM Says Commercial Ships Diverted Under Iran Blockade Reach 51

US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed, according to Mehr News Agency in a report carried by Ecoiran on Friday, August 7, 2026 (16 Mordad 1405), that its forces have rerouted 51 commercial ships, disabled two vessels, and boarded two more for inspection since the renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports began. CENTCOM added that the guided missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) is operating in regional waters in support of the blockade.

The tally CENTCOM has reported has kept climbing in recent days: the count of diverted ships, which stood at 48 in a Thursday, August 6 report, has now risen to 51, while the number of disabled and boarded vessels has held steady at two each. Sahmino does not independently verify these figures and reports them as attributed to CENTCOM's statement. The claim comes as talks between Iran and Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz are said to be entering their final stages.