Recordings show US military personnel ordering vessels to return; 10 ships have already been forced to return
O Centcom () announced, this Wednesday (April 15, 2026), military during the operation of . The restrictions imposed by the United States on ships transiting through the region to or from Iranian ports came into force on Monday (13 April).
O it is a waterway through which about 1/5 of the global supply of oil and gas passes. The command also reported that 10 vessels were forced to return to a port or coastal area in Iran during the blockade, in response to US requests.
The audios released by Centcom on its official profile on X record US military personnel ordering vessels to return and prepare for inspections. The material documents communications established during the blockade operation, which aims to restrict maritime traffic related to Iran.
“If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The entire United States Navy stands ready to enforce compliance by force”said a US military officer in the recording.
Listen to the audios (37s):
The operation is conducted by the United States Navy under the coordination of Centcom. Affected vessels include ships attempting to access or leave Iranian ports.
The measure comes after the end of negotiations between the North American and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday (11 April). The 2 countries left the Pakistani capital without reaching an agreement.
According to a note from Sunday (April 12), US forces did not “will impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports”.
