Washington, July 31: The U.S. military has provided new insights into its enforcement operations against Iran. According to reports, American forces have redirected dozens of commercial vessels while maintaining extensive surveillance and naval presence in the Middle East.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a post on X that its blockade is being enforced through warships, surveillance aircraft, and thousands of troops. The command also dismissed what it termed “false claims” from Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
CENTCOM shared an image showing a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker during patrols in the Middle East. This aircraft is a specialized surveillance tool among several assets monitoring maritime areas against Iran.
The command further noted, “As of July 30, CENTCOM forces altered the course of 24 commercial ships to ensure compliance with regulations, stopped two vessels, and boarded two for inspection.”
CENTCOM accused Iranian state media and the IRGC of spreading misinformation regarding events in the Gulf. This operational update follows shortly after Iranian media reported on three false claims made by the IRGC.
The IRGC had asserted that “the free and open passage through the Strait of Hormuz is dangerous for commercial vessels.” CENTCOM refuted this, stating, “The real threat to commercial ships and their civilian crews comes from IRGC’s verbal threats and attempts at attacks.”
CENTCOM also denied Iranian claims that three U.S. F-35 stealth fighters and three other aircraft were destroyed in a recent Iranian attack on a U.S. airbase. The command responded, “No U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent Iranian attack attempts. All missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach their targets.”
Additionally, CENTCOM corrected reports suggesting that the commercial oil tanker M/T Nora had breached the U.S. blockade. According to CENTCOM, “The commercial vessel did not break through the robust U.S. blockade. Over 20 U.S. warships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of troops remain vigilant and fully enforce the blockade.”
These statements reflect an escalation in the ongoing war of claims between Washington and Tehran, with both sides making contradictory assertions. The U.S. maintains that it is upholding its blockade while monitoring one of the world’s most crucial maritime routes.
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