CENTCOM escalates maritime blockade: 35 commercial vessels redirected amid standoff with Iran

Washington DC: United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Sunday that its units have diverted 35 commercial merchant vessels, immobilised two, and boarded a further pair whilst the American maritime blockade targeting Iran persists.

Via social media, CENTCOM noted that its personnel maintain the enforcement of the naval embargo originally reinstated against Tehran in the preceding month.

The military command additionally published video footage documenting a US Marine Corps F-35C stealth fighter lifting off from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln whilst the aircraft carrier patrols the Arabian Sea in support of the blockade operations.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM stated: "A U.S. Marine Corps F-35C stealth fighter jet launches from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the aircraft carrier transits the Arabian Sea and supports the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 2, CENTCOM has redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2."

Earlier, Iran's Acting Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Support, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Ibn al-Reza, declared that Tehran regards any hazard from its "adversaries" with utmost gravity, utilising such posturing to elevate military readiness and bolster its deterrence posture.

According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Ibn al-Reza articulated these points through an official message published on his X profile.

He observed that while Iran views recent pronouncements from its opponents as elements of psychological and informational campaigns, Tehran refuses to discount them, choosing instead to evaluate every warning as "real and significant."

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These developments followed US President Donald Trump's announcement on Saturday (local time) that he had called off an anticipated military strike against Iran, pending the swift finalisation of an agreement with the Gulf nation, while noting Israel's alignment with this stance.

Trump cited urgent representations from West Asian nations urging a suspension of hostilities as "perimeters of a deal have been agreed to", asserting this framework would encompass the immediate and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz alongside the termination of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The suspension of the offensive relies entirely on two core demands directed at Tehran: the unrestricted unsealing of the Strait of Hormuz to restore global maritime commerce through the vital energy corridor, and a verifiable halt to Iran's nuclear development activities.

Whilst the withdrawal of strike orders offers a temporary stay from full-scale conflict, Trump stressed that the truce remains strictly contingent upon Iranian willingness to "rapidly make a deal."

"The USA is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total opening of the Hormuz Strait, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the world and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a deal. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment," he added.

"Get to work, everybody, and get it done," Trump urged, shifting the responsibility onto diplomats to codify the tentative framework into a formal treaty.

ANI