The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Saturday that the naval blockade of Iranian ports remains fully in effect, releasing details of recent enforcement operations. According to the command, since the blockade was reinstated earlier this summer, American forces have redirected twelve commercial vessels, disabled two that failed to comply, and boarded two others for verification. The undertaking signals a continued maritime pressure campaign against Iran even as the White House explores diplomatic openings.

On 24 July, US forces disabled the Mozambique-flagged tanker Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after its crew repeatedly attempted to breach the blockade and ignored warnings. Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, told Interfax that a missile strike on the engine room was used to stop the vessel, which is no longer transiting to Iran. A day later, personnel boarded the Comoros-flagged M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea for a verification inspection; the tanker was allowed to continue its journey after the cargo was checked. CENTCOM also disclosed that it had previously disabled another vessel that refused orders, though the ship’s name was not released.

The enforcement of the blockade continues despite a US decision to temporarily halt airstrikes against Iran. Axios, citing two sources close to the decision, reported that President Donald Trump instructed the military not to execute new attacks on Friday while contacts with Tehran proceed. An Israeli official told the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation that Washington had postponed a “powerful bombardment” to give Iran “another chance to return to the negotiating table.” CENTCOM’s announcement makes no mention of the pause, stating that American forces remain “highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.”

In a possible sign of regional de-escalation, Qatar announced that it would resume all civilian maritime navigation from Sunday after a suspension of more than ten days prompted by the conflict. Meanwhile, Washington and London are preparing a meeting of defence ministers and senior military commanders in London next week to advance a possible international coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a fifth of global oil previously transited. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are expected to attend, Axios reported.

The Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping, CENTCOM said, although recent attacks on vessels in the area have been attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. With the blockade fully operational and diplomatic channels active, the situation balances between military coercion and tentative negotiation.