US Central Command says 8 vessels turned back since Iran port blockade resumed

TEHRAN, Iran — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said eight commercial ships have altered course and one vessel has been intercepted since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports resumed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States has placed Iranian ports under blockade and is blocking Tehran's oil exports, according to the statement. CENTCOM also reported completing a new round of airstrikes against targets inside Iran on the same day, aimed at weakening Iran's ability to target commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes hit military command centers, naval assets, missile and drone launchers, and air defense systems, the command said. According to CENTCOM, commercial traffic through the international waterway is continuing. Since the start of May, U.S. forces have helped secure the safe passage of roughly 900 commercial ships carrying approximately 450 million barrels of crude oil, the statement added.