The chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, provided a fresh update Thursday on the U.S.-imposed maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reporting that commercial traffic is already shifting in response to the operation. According to the briefing, 13 vessels have altered course and chosen not to proceed through the strategic waterway since the policy took effect.
Caine said military commanders view the turnarounds as evidence that ship captains are complying with U.S. instructions designed to halt transit connected to Iranian ports. He characterized the decisions as voluntary avoidance of the restricted zone rather than direct interceptions, emphasizing that so far no boarding operations have been required in the Strait of Hormuz area.
U.S. Central Command has maintained a visible presence in the region, but as of Thursday morning, forces had not escalated to physically boarding ships attempting passage. Military officials noted that similar maritime interdiction activity has also been carried out under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command authority, targeting vessels that departed the area before the blockade formally began.
The update follows earlier reporting earlier in the week that six ships had already been redirected shortly after the blockade was announced, indicating a rapid expansion in the number of affected vessels as enforcement continues.
The operation is being supported by a range of military assets, including fighter aircraft, surveillance platforms, helicopter units, and aerial refueling tankers. Naval leadership described destroyers as the primary surface enforcement platform in the region, working alongside carrier strike group assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, which is positioned nearby to reinforce operations.
According to military procedure outlined during the briefing, approaching vessels receive direct warnings from Navy personnel on destroyer bridges. These communications instruct ships to avoid attempting passage, warning that noncompliant vessels risk being boarded for inspection and potential seizure. The message underscores that force may be used if instructions are ignored.
The blockade was implemented following extended diplomatic discussions between U.S. and Iranian representatives held in Pakistan, which ultimately failed to produce an agreement. Despite the breakdown in talks, U.S. leadership has indicated that diplomatic engagement remains possible, even as enforcement continues. President Donald Trump has also suggested that military pressure could intensify, including the possibility of renewed strikes if U.S. conditions are not met.
