The American military announced on Tuesday that it had seized a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea, suspected of attempting to violate the American blockade of Iranian ports.
The M/V Blue Star III was released by American forces “after they conducted a search and confirmed that the vessel’s itinerary did not include a stop at an Iranian port,” said the American military command for the Middle East (Centcom) on X.
“To date, 39 ships have been redirected to ensure the respect for the blockade,” it added.
The announcement also included a video showing a helicopter above the ship as American Marines rappelled down onto containers stacked on the boat.
Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic international trade waterway, since the beginning of the war with the United States and Israel on February 28, destabilizing global energy markets and putting the strait at the center of negotiations to end the conflict.
In response, the United States announced that it would impose a blockade of Iranian ports starting from April 13.
Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth told journalists in April that Washington would maintain its blockade “as long as necessary.”
“This blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading to or coming from Iranian ports,” said Chief of Staff of the American military Dan Caine, who was present alongside Pete Hegseth.
AFP
