The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says that as of Wednesday, August 12, U.S. forces had redirected 59 commercial vessels linked to the Iranian regime, disabled three vessels, and boarded two ships to inspect them and ensure full compliance with the blockade.
An F/A-18 fighter jet launches from the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) while the ship sails in regional waters and supports enforcement of America’s 🇺🇸 steel wall blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 12, U.S. forces have redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and… pic.twitter.com/dH4BBshoTE
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 12, 2026
Following the resumption of attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the United States resumed its naval blockade against the Iranian regime on July 14.
According to tanker-tracking companies, Iran’s oil exports have come to a complete halt since the naval blockade began.
President Donald Trump said in a Wednesday post on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade of the Iranian regime is a “steel wall” and that the regime cannot do anything to counter it.
He stressed that the United States has full control of the Strait of Hormuz and will likely maintain it.
In response to Donald Trump’s message, the Persian Gulf Waterway Management Authority—operating under the supervision of the IRGC—claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and will not reopen until the Iranian regime’s conditions are accepted.
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (IRGC) : “Claims and repeated tweets by U.S. officials about reopening the Strait of Hormuz do not change reality. The strait remains blocked and will not reopen until Iran’s conditions are accepted.” pic.twitter.com/Mdat1mplJK
— DDF NEWS (@ddfmarketing1) August 12, 2026
The Iranian regime has disrupted international shipping both in the Strait of Hormuz and, more recently, through its Houthi proxy forces in Yemen in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. However, vessel traffic continues at a limited level in the Strait of Hormuz and at a high level through Bab el-Mandeb.
Maritime data analytics company Kpler said in a Wednesday post on X that 14 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Chokepoint traffic rises, risks persist
Maritime traffic increased through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb on 11 August, but higher volumes have not translated into normalisation. Hormuz crossings rose to 14, with 11 using the Iranian Unilateral Scheme and none using… pic.twitter.com/szFMq6tO4c
— Kpler (@Kpler) August 12, 2026
Before the Strait of Hormuz was closed, between 120 and 150 ships passed through it each day.
According to Kpler, ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb has also increased to 40 vessels, showing little change compared with normal traffic through the waterway.
