Central Command reported Wednesday that the USS Spruance successfully forced an Iranian-flagged cargo ship to honor the U.S. blockade and turn back.
The San Diego-based guided-missile destroyer is part of the Navy fleet in the Gulf of Oman enforcing the three-day-old blockade of ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports.
Centcom said that on Tuesday the Spruance “successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran.”
The Spruance intervened after the ship was tracked leaving the port Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and sailing along the Iranian coastline
Centcom said 10 vessels have been turned around so far, and none have broken through.
Navy personnel have been hailing suspect ships via radio and threatening them with boarding or use of force.
The U.S. blockade is intended to degrade Iran’s oil-based economy and force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
