Washington: The United States has intensified its naval blockade aimed at restricting maritime trade to and from Iran, with officials confirming that 42 commercial vessels have been intercepted so far.
According to United States Central Command, the latest action involved redirecting the 42nd ship that attempted to breach the blockade. Commander Brad Cooper described it as a “significant milestone” in enforcing the restrictions.
Officials said that 41 tankers, carrying an estimated 69 million barrels of oil worth over $6 billion, are currently stalled due to the blockade. This is expected to have a major impact on Iran’s oil exports and revenue.
Iran has strongly condemned the move, terming it “piracy.” The country’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command stated that it could not immediately respond in detail, citing the presence of crew members and their families aboard the affected vessels.
The situation has further escalated tensions in the region, with global trade and energy markets closely monitoring developments.
