Over 10,000 US troops enforce Gulf ‘red line’ as Iran feels mounting economic pressure amid blockade.
The blockade of Iranian ports was “fully implemented” within 36 hours of its launch, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a statement attributed to US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM said US forces had halted all maritime trade entering and leaving Iran.
Centcom released an infographic outlining the naval blockade along Iran’s southern coastline, showing a marked “red line” extending from the vicinity of Kuwait across the Arabian Gulf and into the Gulf of Oman toward Oman, effectively sealing Iranian ports while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for transit.
The operation, launched after Iran refused to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, prohibits all vessels—regardless of flag—from entering or leaving Iranian waters, targeting the country’s oil exports that finance its military activities.
Compliance
In the first 24 hours, no vessels crossed the designated line; six merchant ships reportedly complied with US warnings and turned back, indicating early adherence to the restrictions, CENTCOM said.
Blockade follows failed talks
More than 10,000 US sailors, Marines, and airmen are supporting the operation, backed by over 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft and more than a dozen warships, including aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships, unmanned vessels, and refueling tankers.
President Donald Trump’s April 7 deadline for a ceasefire expired without Iranian concessions on uranium stockpiles or the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions following the breakdown of talks.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait—through which around 20% of global oil flows—prompted NATO allies such as the UK and France to pledge maritime patrols, while the United States leads a selective pressure campaign on Iranian ports aimed at avoiding a full disruption of global trade.
Applied selectively, the blockade is intended to pressure Tehran’s economy without triggering wider escalation.
UN Resolution 2817 supports “freedom of navigation,” though critics warn the situation could push oil prices above $150 per barrel. CENTCOM has emphasized that access to non-Iranian ports remains open, framing the approach as an effort to balance coercive pressure with the protection of broader maritime rights in a high-stakes standoff.
