US forces redirect 7 merchant vessels amid naval blockade against Iran: CENTCOM

The U.S. forces have redirected seven commercial vessels and disabled one ship on Monday while enforcing a naval blockade against Iran, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media platform X.

According to CENTCOM, the interception operations are designed to stop vessels from entering or exiting Iranian ports, and the military's strict enforcement of the blockade has resulted in a total of seven commercial vessels being diverted and one being disabled to ensure full compliance with the maritime restrictions.

The maritime blockade was formally reinstated on July 14, per an earlier CENTCOM statement. It took effect at 16:00 Eastern Time (2000 GMT) and applies to all vessels bound for or departing from Iranian ports and coastal regions.

US forces redirect 7 merchant vessels amid naval blockade against Iran: CENTCOM

US forces redirect 7 merchant vessels amid naval blockade against Iran: CENTCOM

A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesman announced that, out of humanitarian considerations, Chinese authorities on Tuesday morning permitted the transfer of injured personnel from a Philippine vessel that was illegally "grounded" at China's Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

Jiang Lue, spokesman for the CCG, said the transfer, under the monitoring of the Chinese side, was conducted via a small boat of a Philippine vessel.

The CCG will continue to carry out law-enforcement activities to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests at Ren'ai Jiao and its surrounding waters in accordance with the law, the spokesman added.

China permits injured Philippine personnel transfer from illegally "grounded" vessel