WASHINGTON D.C April 22, 2026 – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) pushed back forcefully Wednesday against media reports alleging that Iranian oil tankers had slipped through the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, confirming that American forces have now directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port since the operation began in mid-April.
In a detailed statement posted on X, CENTCOM directly addressed recent headlines citing the M/V Hero II, M/V Hedy, and M/V Dorena as supposed “evaders.”
“These reports are inaccurate,” the command stated. The Iranian-flagged tankers Hero II and Hedy “did not sail past the blockade as part of a flotilla that ‘ferried’ millions of barrels of oil to the market.” Instead, both vessels were intercepted by U.S. forces earlier this week and remain anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran.
The M/V Dorena, meanwhile, is currently under escort by a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate the blockade.
CENTCOM stressed the operation’s wide geographic scope: “The U.S. military has global reach. American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond.”
The statement was accompanied by a striking photograph showing a U.S. Navy destroyer (hull number 112 visible) cutting through open seas in the foreground, with a large tanker visible in the hazy distance — a visual reminder of the blockade’s enforcement far beyond the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
The naval blockade, which took effect on April 13 following the collapse of U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks, aims to halt all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. As of Tuesday, CENTCOM had reported 28 vessels turned away. Wednesday’s update brings the total to 29.
The operation has involved U.S. Navy warships, surveillance aircraft, and support vessels patrolling vast stretches of the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Earlier this week, U.S. forces boarded and seized at least one Iranian-flagged vessel attempting to breach the blockade.
CENTCOM’s latest statement comes amid ongoing regional tensions and appears designed to counter what the military views as misleading coverage of the blockade’s effectiveness. No immediate response from Iranian officials was available at press time.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments in the U.S.-Iran maritime standoff.
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