At least nine commercial vessels have crossed the strait since Monday the 13th, according to data from the Kpler platform
The United States Central Command (Centcom) stated that no vessel managed to overcome the blockade imposed on Iranian ports in the first 24 hours of the operation, but market data indicate movement in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting possible divergence over the scope of the measure.
In a publication on X, Centcom said that more than 10,000 military personnel, supported by more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are participating in the mission. According to the command, “no ships passed through the blockade” in the initial period, and six commercial vessels were directed to return to Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.
The US claims the blockade is applied impartially to ships of all nationalities bound for or originating in Iranian ports, while saying it preserves “freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz for routes unrelated to Iran.
On the other hand, at least nine commercial vessels have crossed the strait since Monday the 13th, according to data from the Kpler platform cited by CNN. Among them are the oil tankers Rich Starry and Elpis, both under US sanctions for links to Iran. The difference may reflect the distinction between the specific blockade of Iranian ports and the broader flow of ships in the region, but it also raises doubts about the initial effectiveness of the American operation.
