US Forces Iranian Ship to Turn Back, Tehran Threatens to Expand Conflict to Red Sea
Strait of Hormuz. Picture credit: Wikimedia Commons
The US-enforced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, announced since the Islamabad peace talks failed, resulted in an Iranian-flagged vessel turning back on Wednesday (April 15, 2026).
This blockade invited a sharp reaction from Iran, which threatened to expand the West Asian conflict to the Red Sea if the US continued its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Tehran.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its Aegis-class guided missile destroyer USS Spruance forced the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel to return, marking the latest enforcement of the blockade announced by President Trump early this week.
“Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the US blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline.
“The guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran,” the CENTCOM statement said.
It said this was the 10th vessel to be turned back during the blockade that began on Monday (April 13), and “ZERO” ships had broken through the blockade.
Meanwhile, Iran’s joint military commander Ali Abdollahi threatened to expand the current Strait of Hormuz blockade across the Gulf region, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea if the US continued to stop Iranian vessels from entering or leaving its ports.
“Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests,” Abdollahi said, adding that the US blockade was “a prelude to violating the ceasefire.”
