US Central Command Says More Than 100 Ships Redirected, Disabled in Iran Blockade

As of Friday, 97 commercial ships heading to or from Iran were redirected and four were disabled, the United States said.

A U.S. sailor aboard USS Comstock (LSD 45) observes a commercial vessel while enforcing the U.S. blockade against Iran, on May 21, 2026. Courtesy of U.S. Central Command

The U.S. military force imposing a naval blockade against Iran said on May 22 that more than 100 ships have been either redirected or disabled since mid-April, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to simmer.

U.S. Central Command said that 97 commercial ships heading to or from Iran were redirected and four were disabled since the start of the blockade. It also released a photo of a sailor aboard the USS Comstock, a landing ship, observing a vessel while the blockade was being enforced.