The United States has clarified that its maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is aimed specifically at Iranian shipping rather than global trade, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.
Speaking on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures are not intended to disrupt international maritime traffic. “The blockade is not a blockade against shipping, it’s a blockade against Iranian shipping,” Rubio stated, adding that Tehran cannot be allowed to dominate what he described as an “unlawful” system of control and tolling in the strategic waterway.
Separately, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a US Navy vessel intercepted an Iranian-flagged tanker in the region. According to the command, the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta halted the ship on Sunday after it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port.
CENTCOM said the interception was part of ongoing enforcement measures linked to the blockade, and released an image of the encounter on social media. No further details were provided regarding the tanker’s cargo or whether any crew members were detained.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global energy supplies passes, remaining a focal point of the standoff between Washington and Tehran.