Archive · 19 Jul 2026
US Redirects 5 Vessels, Disables 1 in Iran Naval Blockade
The United States has been stopping ships going to and from Iran.
They made five ships change their routes and stopped one ship by shooting missiles at it.
This happened because the US and Iran couldn't agree on some important things, and now they are in a conflict.
The US is using a big navy ship called the USS Donald Cook to do this.
The ship they stopped was an empty oil tanker that didn't listen to warnings.
This is all part of a bigger problem between the US and Iran about nuclear programs and safety in the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces have redirected five commercial vessels and disabled one vessel as part of a naval blockade against Iran.
The USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) is conducting operations in the Arabian Sea to enforce the blockade.
On July 15, US forces disabled an empty oil tanker, the M/T Belma, after it allegedly ignored warnings while heading towards Iran's Kharg Island.
The blockade was resumed after the collapse of a 14-point MoU aimed at ending hostilities between the US and Iran.
Tensions have escalated, with both sides conducting retaliatory strikes against each other's military and civilian assets.
- Who
- United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and US naval forces
- What
- Redirected 5 commercial vessels and disabled 1 vessel in a naval blockade against Iran
- When
- As of July 18, with the disabling of the vessel on July 15
- Where
- Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf
- Why
- To enforce a naval blockade against Iran, following the collapse of a 14-point MoU aimed at ending hostilities
- Vessels Redirected
- 5
- Vessel Disabled
- 1
- Date of Disabled Vessel
- July 15
- Vessel Name
- M/T Belma
- Vessel Flag
- Curacao
- Destination
- Iran's Kharg Island
- Missiles Used
- Hellfire
- US Naval Vessel Involved
- USS Donald Cook (DDG 75)