US Navy destroyer intercepts Iranian-flagged vessel trying to skirt blockade
By Riley Ceder
Apr 15, 2026, 06:03 PM
The USS Spruance, seen here in 2024, redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel back to Iran on April 14, CENTCOM said. (MCS3 Valerie Morrison/U.S. Navy)
The U.S. Navy prevented an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel from leaving Iran on Tuesday after it attempted to evade the maritime blockade that began Monday, U.S. Central Command announced.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance redirected the vessel back toward Iran after it fled Bandar Abbas, exited the Strait of Hormuz and was making its way along the Iranian coastline, according to a CENTCOM release.
“Ten vessels have now been turned around and zero ships have broken through since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday,” the command’s post on X stated.
The U.S. Navy blockade, which involves 10,000 troops, over a dozen warships and more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft, went into effect Monday after President Donald Trump announced on social media that the U.S. would seal off the Strait of Hormuz following failed peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/15/us-navy-destroyer-intercepts-iranian-flagged-vessel-trying-to-skirt-blockade/
