US military allows nearly 30 humanitarian vessels through Iran blockade as enforcement intensifies

The US Navy is threading a needle in the waters around Iran: aggressively enforcing a maritime blockade while waving through nearly 30 ships carrying humanitarian cargo.

US Central Command reported on July 31 that since the blockade’s resumption on July 14, forces have redirected 30 commercial vessels, disabled two non-compliant ships, and boarded two others. At the same time, nearly 30 vessels carrying humanitarian aid were permitted to pass through the blockade zone.

A blockade with teeth

Within the first 24 hours of the blockade’s resumption, two compliant vessels were redirected and one non-compliant ship was disabled via a Hellfire missile strike. The current phase of enforcement began at 4 p.m. ET on July 14. It represents a continuation of a broader campaign that first launched on April 13 and ran through June 18. During that initial period, CENTCOM redirected over 140 vessels, disabled nine, and allowed more than 50 humanitarian ships through.

By mid-May, about a month into the first phase, cumulative numbers showed 67 vessels redirected, four disabled, and 15 humanitarian vessels permitted passage.

Hellfire missile strikes against non-compliant tankers in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman were part of the enforcement toolkit during the first phase. These strikes targeted vessels that failed to comply after receiving warnings.

The humanitarian carve-out

Nearly 30 humanitarian vessels cleared through during a roughly two-and-a-half-week window. During the earlier 66-day blockade from April to June, more than 50 humanitarian ships were granted passage.

No individual vessels or companies have been publicly named in CENTCOM’s statements.

Why this matters beyond the Gulf

The Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran, handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply on any given day.

The resumption of the blockade after a roughly four-week pause between June 18 and July 14 suggests the US views the initial enforcement period as either incomplete in achieving its objectives or as part of a pressure campaign designed to be applied in intervals.

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