US Directs 28 Vessels To Turn Around Under Iran Port Blockade - CENTCOM

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US forces have directed 28 vessels to turn around or return to port since the start of a blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, Anadolu Ajansi reported US Central Command said Tuesday.

The comments came as Washington has maintained a naval blockade since last week, a move Tehran described as a violation of a ceasefire.

Tensions have grown after Iran, which said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was reopened to maritime traffic, reversed course one day later and again restricted vessel movements, citing unmet US obligations under a two-week ceasefire deal, which is set to expire Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire “numerous times.”

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for a new round of talks, though Iran has not confirmed participation and has demanded the lifting of the blockade as a precondition.

Meanwhile, Anadolu reported limited commercial vessel traffic continued around the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours as of 1200GMT Tuesday amid concerns about a potential ceasefire between Iran and the US.

Three vessels passed through the strait from the Arabian Gulf to the Oman Gulf, while nine traversed from the east to the west.

A Togo-flagged container ship, Serrano, a Comoros-flagged landing craft Castle KH, and an Iran-flagged bunkering tanker Bavan, all hovering around Iranian ports, according to AIS data, passed through the strait from the western side to the east.

The US State Department said Tuesday that it is assisting Americans in the Middle East in returning home.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU