U.S. says 45 commercial vessels redirected during blockade against Iran

The U.S. military has forced 45 commercial vessels to redirect during the U.S. blockade against Iran, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday.

As of Aug 4, U.S. forces have redirected 45 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two to ensure compliance, the command said in a post on social media platform X.

Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) was sailing in regional waters while supporting the U.S. blockade against Iran, the command said.

U.S. forces resumed blocking maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on July 14.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday the country will not withdraw its forces from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.

"We are instructing IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory and our citizens," Netanyahu said in a video released on social media.

Regarding the deal U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday the so-called "Board of Peace" had reached for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, Netanyahu said that the White House "sent us a draft," but "we did not agree to it."

"It is not our draft. We sent our comments," he said.

A day after Trump's announcement of the deal, Hamas said it had agreed to the "latest version of the roadmap" for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement after "fierce" negotiations, but conditioned weaponry arrangements on a complete halt to "aggression," Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, and progress on reconstruction.

Over the weekend, Israeli strikes reportedly killed dozens of people, including children and other civilians, across Gaza, prompting Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, mediators in the Gaza ceasefire talks, to issue a joint condemnation on Monday.