Navy intercepts 31 ships

U.S. forces said they had turned back 25 commercial vessels and then seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, M/V Touska, on April 19. (centcom.mil) U.S. Central Command said the blockade began on April 13 and applies to ships entering or leaving Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The command said it would not impede traffic bound for non-Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. (centcom.mil) The first direct seizure came six days later in the Arabian Sea. CENTCOM said USS Spruance warned Touska for six hours, ordered the crew out of the engine room, then fired 5-inch rounds that disabled the ship before Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded it. (centcom.mil) (news.usni.org) The geography matters. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow sea lane between Iran and Oman that links Gulf exporters to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. (aljazeera.com) The U.S. blockade is being enforced farther east than Iran’s ports, with naval units positioned in the Gulf of Oman and northern Arabian Sea rather than directly off the Iranian coast. That lets U.S. warships challenge traffic before it reaches the strait or turns toward Bandar Abbas and other Iranian terminals. (independent.co.uk) (centcom.mil) Shipping data suggests the blockade is disruptive but porous. Lloyd’s List reported at least 26 Iran-linked vessels had still bypassed the blockade by April 20, even as U.S. officials said enforcement was hurting Iranian trade. (lloydslist.com) (telegraph.co.uk) Traffic through Hormuz has repeatedly seized up after military incidents. Reuters reported on April 20 that ships were largely avoiding the strait after Iran fired what appeared to be warning shots and the U.S. seized Touska. (msn.com) Energy markets are watching because the strait handled about 25% of seaborne oil trade in 2025, and about 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade also moves through it. The International Energy Agency said options to reroute those flows are limited. (iea.org) (eia.gov) Marine insurers and freight brokers are repricing Gulf voyages as the military risk rises. Argus reported on April 14 that war-risk cover had become a central cost for shipowners and cargo interests moving through Hormuz-linked routes. (argusmedia.com) For now, the clearest verified number is not 31 ships seized. The U.S. military has publicly said 25 commercial vessels were directed to turn around as of April 19, and one Iranian-flagged cargo vessel was disabled and taken into custody. (centcom.mil)