U.S. Reinstates Naval Blockade of Iran Covering Full Coastline

The United States reinstated a naval blockade of Iran on July 14, 2026 at 2000 GMT. The measure covers the full Iranian coastline, including all ports and oil terminals, and applies to vessels of any flag. U.S.

Central Command stated that two commercial vessels were redirected and one was kinetically disabled during the first 24 hours of enforcement. CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting traffic flow for compliant vessels.

The blockade will not impede neutral transit through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations.

More than 20 U.S. warships operate in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, supported by hundreds of aircraft at bases, vessels, and forward arming points across the Middle East. Two carrier strike groups centered on USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W.

Bush have operated in the northern Arabian Sea for months, each escorted by up to three guided-missile destroyers. An additional seven destroyers, USS Princeton, USS Tulsa, and USS Miguel Keith are deployed in the region. Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, dock landing ship USS Comstock, and amphibious transport dock USS Portland entered U.S.

5th Fleet waters in early July. The Tripoli ARG, composed of USS Tripoli, USS New Orleans, and USS Rushmore, moved into the U.S. Pacific Command area after operating in the CENTCOM region since March.

U.S. forces have used kinetic measures against noncompliant vessels in prior months. USS Spruance fired on M/V Touska in April. An F/A-18 from USS Abraham Lincoln disabled M/T Hasna in May. U.S. aircraft struck M/T Jalveer with Hellfire missiles in June and M/T Belma on July 15.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17 had lifted the prior blockade, yet U.S. naval posture remained unchanged in the region afterward. President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement.