US forces expand scope of blockade against Iran

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks to members of the media during a briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (Kevin Wolf/AP)

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. military forces have widened the shipping blockade on Iran to include cargoes deemed contraband, and any vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be “subject to belligerent right to visit and search,” the U.S. Navy said in an advisory on Thursday.

“These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search and seizure,” the Navy said in the advisory, which was updated after a blockade was imposed on Monday.

Contraband items included weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products as well as iron, steel and aluminum.

The U.S. blockade includes the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing the entirety of the Iranian coast. It isn’t limited to ports and oil terminals, CENTCOM said in a notice to mariners this week.

The blockade is doing what it is intended to do, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday during a briefing at the Pentagon.

The blockade enforced by the Navy has forced 13 ships to turn around, Caine said. The chairman also added the blockade includes the Pacific area of responsibility.

“As of this morning, U.S. Central Command has not been required to board any particular ships,” Caine said. “And I’ll remind you that we are also conducting similar maritime interdiction actions and activities in the pacific AOR against those ships that left that area before we began the blockade.”

The action follows a breakdown in U.S.-Iran talks over the weekend aimed at ending hostilities in the Persian Gulf and getting Iran to forfeit its nuclear materials.

“Any ship that would cross the blockade would result in our sailors executing pre-planned tactics designed to bring the force to that ship — if need be, board the ship and take her over,” Caine said. “And that includes a series of escalated force options, which could include warning shots and others.”

The press briefing comes as the end of two-week ceasefire with Iran approaches. Reports that the White House requested a ceasefire in the Iran ​war are wrong, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday, adding that discussions about a second round of talks with the Iranians were ongoing and productive.

“We urge this morning that this new Iranian regime choose wisely,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. “If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.”

Since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28, 13 American personnel have died and at least 395 have been wounded, according to Defense Manpower Data Center figures.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. Central Command leader, briefed the Pentagon’s top leader about Operation Epic Fury after his two visits to the region in the past 15 days.

“My personal assessment is, after these couple of trips, our troops are highly motivated, they’re focused, they’re vigilant and they’re ready,” Cooper told reporters. “We’re rearming, we’re retooling and we’re adjusting our tactics.”