The blockade of some Iranian ports involves more than 10,000 US forces, over a dozen warships and dozens of aircrafts, comes as an attempt to force Iran to meet US terms of a peace deal
A US destroyer warship has intercepted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran.
The incident on Tuesday, April 14 occurred a day after US President Donald Trump’s blockade came into effect. The destroyer instructed the tankers to turn around, a US official said, speaking to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.
It is understood that the ships left Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman and were contacted by the warship via radio communication. It was unclear whether any further warnings were given. The disclosure adds further detail to the start of Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports on the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade aims to pressure Iran to end its closure of the strait, through which about one fifth of global oil is traded.
The US blockade, which involves more than 10,000 US forces, over a dozen warships and dozens of aircrafts, comes as an attempt to force Iran to meet US terms of a peace deal.
The US and Iran have been in conflict since February 28 when joint US-Israeli strikes were carried out on several key Iranian sites. Iran responded by closing the strait and striking several sites across the Middle East, plunging the region into conflict.
The US and Iran have agreed to a short-term ceasefire due to expire next week. Both sides have said they are open to more negotiations.
The US official told Reuters that the the two tankers were among the six merchant vessels the US Central Command said in a statement earlier on Tuesday had followed orders to “turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.”
Central Command said no ships have made it past the blockade since it went into effect on Monday at 10am in Washington.
