121 commercial vessels redirected, 5 disabled amid US blockade against Iran: CENTCOM
Washington DC, June 2
The United States Central Command on Monday said that American military forces are continuing operations in support of the ongoing US blockade against Iran, with 121 commercial vessels redirected and five disabled to ensure compliance.
In a post on X, CENTCOM stated that the vessels were redirected and disabled as of Monday, June 1.
"Thousands of U.S. service members at sea, in the skies, and from land are supporting the ongoing U.S. blockade against Iran. As of June 1, CENTCOM forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled 5 to ensure compliance," the post stated.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia as the fragile ceasefire hangs in the balance amid diplomatic engagements between Iran and the US to achieve a complete settlement to the three month old conflict.
Notably, US President Donald Trump has asked for additional revisions to a proposed agreement with Iran aimed at extending a ceasefire, CBS News reported. The latest draft outlines a 60-day halt to hostilities, steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework to restart talks on Iran's nuclear program. No formal agreement has been announced.
A high-level White House meeting on Friday intended to reach a "final determination" ended without a decision. Trump said preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons remains non-negotiable.
"The one guarantee I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons," he told Fox News. He added that he was in "no hurry" to finalise a deal.
The current proposal also addresses Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. If talks advance, Iran could regain access to billions in frozen assets through sanctions relief.
Earlier, CENTCOM said US forces had successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American personnel stationed in Kuwait.
"Last night at 11 p.m. ET, U.S. forces successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait. These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed. U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire," CENTCOM said in an earlier post on X.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I understand the concern about Iran's nuclear program, but disabling five vessels is extreme. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for oil shipments to countries like India. If this escalates, we'll face higher fuel prices again. The US should push harder for diplomatic solutions instead of flexing military muscle.
The US has every right to protect its forces after those ballistic missile attacks on Kuwait. Two missiles intercepted - that's serious. India has always condemned terrorism, and Iran's actions don't help. But I wish CENTCOM would be more transparent about which vessels were disabled and why. Civilian shipping shouldn't be collateral damage. 🇮🇳
Interesting how Trump says he's in "no hurry" while the ceasefire hangs by a thread. 121 redirected vessels is a huge number - that's like an entire fleet being disrupted. India's foreign policy has always advocated dialogue over confrontation. I hope the US and Iran can find common ground before this spirals into something worse.
As someone who follows geopolitics closely, this blockade reminds me of the 2012 sanctions against Iran. Back then, India's oil imports from Iran dropped from 12% to nearly zero. Now we're more diversified, but this still threatens global stability. The nuclear issue is real, but "no hurry" from Trump means months of uncertainty for shipping companies. 😕
The interception of those two missiles shows how tense things are. But I'm troubled by the word "disabled" - what does that mean exactly
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.