US Forces Turn Back 38 Ships Under Iranian Port Blockade, Including ‘Shadow Fleet’

US Forces have turned back 38 ships under the Iranian port blockade, including ‘Shadow Fleet’ ships.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces were maintaining the Iranian port blockade, actively preventing ships from entering or exiting the Gulf region.

CENTCOM said the forces were sustaining their efforts to monitor and control the movement into coastal hubs.

“American forces have directed 38 ships to turn around or return to port,” a post on X stated, even as the blockade enforcement continues.

Against the backdrop of the blockade, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia on Monday (April 27, 2026) for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing West Asian conflict.

The Russian engagement is part of Iran’s intensive diplomatic outreach, after Araghchi previously visited Pakistan and Oman, before reaching Moscow.

The Iranian Foreign Minister is also slated to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow.

The Iranian diplomatic efforts come as US President Donald Trump cancelled a scheduled visit of his diplomatic envoys to Islamabad to seek a meeting with the Iranian delegation that was in Pakistan at the same time.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that the US Navy forced a sanctioned tanker to retreat to Iran in the Arabian Sea, as part of the blockade.

“US forces continue to enforce US sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said on Sunday (April 26).

In the ongoing naval blockade, the US Navy intercepted the merchant vessel Savan on Saturday (April 25). Savan, it was reported, which was part of Iran’s ‘Shadow Fleet’, was forced to abandon its course and is currently being escorted back to Iranian waters.

The US Navy operation was led by the guided missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91). The operation marked a significant escalation by CENTCOM, which has been tasked with enforcing the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The vessel Sevan was among 19 ‘Shadow Fleet’ ships sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury for activities related to transporting Iranian energy products, including oil, gas, propane, and butane, to foreign markets.

“Earlier today, Sevan was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter from guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and the merchant vessel is currently complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort,” CENTCOM said in an X post.

“US forces continue to enforce sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports,” the statement said.

Earlier on Saturday (April 25), US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the US expanded its naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping. He said the blockade extended from the Gulf of Oman to other waters and was being enforced by the US Navy.

Hegseth said the US was pursuing both diplomatic and military approaches regarding Iran. “Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal,” he said, adding that ships identified under US criteria, including those linked to Iranian ports, have been turned around.