As of Monday, April 13, 2026, two vessels have turned around in response to the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data reported by Reuters. 

The tankers Rich Starry and Ostria both reversed course minutes after approaching the strait as the blockade went into effect. 

While these vessels were not confirmed as being intercepted and captured, their actions indicate they are complying with the U.S. military’s warning.

The U.S. Central Command has stated that any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture, but it is not yet clear if any vessels have been physically seized. 

“Only two? Really? Did these ships originate from Iranian ports?”

The two vessels, Rich Starry and Ostria, did not originate from Iranian ports. 

According to ship-tracking data, the Rich Starry departed from Sharjah anchorage in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), en route to China. 

The Ostria was also approaching from the UAE side of the strait. 

Both vessels were heading towards the Strait of Hormuz from non-Iranian ports when they turned around, complying with the U.S. blockade that targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, while allowing transit for ships traveling between non-Iranian destinations. 

“So the blockade has not actually intercepted any vessels originating from Iranian ports after approximately 14 hours? Is this blockade for real?”

Based on the available information, there is no public confirmation that the U.S. has intercepted or seized any vessels originating from Iranian ports in the first approximately 14 hours of the blockade. 

The two vessels that turned around, Rich Starry and Ostria, were approaching from non-Iranian ports in the UAE and were not attempting to exit Iran. 

A U.S. military official confirmed the blockade was in effect but stated there was “no indication of any incident” in the first 90 minutes. 

While the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has stated that vessels entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization are subject to “interception, diversion and capture,” the enforcement actions in the initial hours appear to have been primarily a deterrent, causing ships to change course voluntarily rather than face direct confrontation. The effectiveness and full implementation of the blockade are still unfolding. 

“Not much of a blockade, is it? So can we describe this blockade as a success?”

It is too early to determine if the blockade is a success, as its primary goal of crippling Iran’s economy by halting oil exports has not yet been visibly achieved. 

The blockade officially began approximately 14 hours ago, and there is no confirmed report of any Iranian-origin vessel being intercepted or seized. 

Two vessels turned around, but they were approaching from non-Iranian ports (UAE), not departing from Iran. 

Maritime data shows that two Iranian-linked tankers, the Aurora and New Future, laden with oil, successfully left the strait before the 10:00 a.m. ET deadline, suggesting Iran may have moved product just in time. 

While the U.S. aims to inflict “approximately $435 million a day in combined economic damage,” the immediate success hinges on stopping outbound Iranian oil, which has not been demonstrated in the first hours. The situation remains fluid.

“How many US warships are involved in this alleged ‘blockade’…?”

The exact number of U.S. warships directly enforcing the blockade at the Strait of Hormuz is not publicly confirmed, but information suggests a significant naval presence in the region. 

Two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Michael Murphy and the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., are confirmed to have entered the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in preparation for the blockade. 

U.S. officials have stated there are currently 16 American warships in Middle East waters. 

Prior to the conflict, the U.S. had 18 warships in the region, including two aircraft carriers and their escort ships. 

A former NATO commander, Admiral James Stavridis, estimated that a full blockade would require two carrier strike groups and about a dozen destroyers and frigates. 

“How vulnerable are they to Iranian anti-ship missiles?”

U.S. warships involved in the Strait of Hormuz blockade are considered highly vulnerable to Iranian anti-ship missiles and other asymmetric threats. 

The narrow Strait of Hormuz, only 21 miles wide at its narrowest, is described by U.S. Navy officials as an Iranian “kill box.” This is due to the proximity of Iranian missile batteries, drone launch sites, and coastal artillery, which drastically reduce warning times for incoming attacks. 

Iran possesses a large arsenal of anti-ship cruise missiles, such as the Noor and Qader (with ranges of 200-300 km), and is developing longer-range systems like the Abu Mahdi, reportedly capable of striking targets up to 1,000 km away in the Arabian Sea. 

Iran’s strategy relies on a layered, asymmetric approach that combines missiles with swarms of fast-attack boats, naval mines, and unmanned systems.  This is designed not to achieve a decisive victory, but to inflict significant damage, drain U.S. missile defenses, and raise the political and military cost of the blockade.

While the U.S. has degraded Iran’s navy and missile capabilities in recent weeks, analysts warn that even a residual Iranian threat is sufficient to make the strait extremely dangerous for high-value U.S. assets like aircraft carriers and destroyers. 

“Is the blockade a breach of the ceasefire?”

Yes, Iran considers the U.S. blockade a breach of the ceasefire. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly stated that any military vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz to enforce the blockade will be considered a “violation of the ceasefire” and will meet a “severe response.”

While the U.S. argues the blockade is a response to Iran’s own closure of the strait, Iranian officials view the American action as an escalation that undermines the fragile two-week ceasefire agreement brokered by Pakistan.

The situation is highly tense, with both sides accusing the other of violating the terms, putting the ceasefire’s survival in serious doubt. 

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