US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday that its forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others while enforcing Washington’s naval blockade against Iran. More than 20 US warships remain deployed across the Middle East to sustain the operation.In a post on X, Centcom said, “US Sailors stand watch on the bridge of USS Ross (DDG 71). Ross is one of over 20 U.S. warships deployed to the Middle East supporting military missions, including strict enforcement of the US blockade against Iran.”“As of Aug. 9, CENTCOM has redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 to ensure compliance,” it added.The latest figures marked an increase from an earlier update in which Centcom said 53 commercial vessels had been redirected, while two had been disabled and two boarded. The US military has also allowed vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass through the blockade.Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that US president Donald Trump appeared to be seeking an exit from the military confrontation with Iran as the conflict grows increasingly difficult to resolve. The report said the administration may be willing to set aside the nuclear issue and declare victory if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz.In another post, Centcom said, “US Sailors conduct maintenance on F/A-18E Super Hornets on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to ensure carrier strike group assets remain mission ready to enforce the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 8, CENTCOM redirected 53 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2. The U.S. military has also permitted more than 30 ships to pass through the blockade for humanitarian aid.“The maritime measures come amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, as Washington continues to pressure Tehran.Meanwhile, Trump signalled on Sunday that the administration was favouring economic pressure over a fresh military offensive against Iran, Axios reported.“We are low keying it,” Axios quoted Trump as saying.Trump said the US was only “semi-negotiating” with Iran while monitoring its economic situation.“We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump added, according to Axios.The comments came as the US military continued its maritime enforcement operation. A US-Iran-Oman agreement that would give Tehran partial control over the Strait of Hormuz traffic remains pending. Earlier, US vice president JD Vance said Washington was working to establish a route that would allow commercial vessels to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining pressure on Iran.
