WASHINGTON, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer has intercepted and redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Central Command said Wednesday.
"Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline," the command said on X. "The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran."
Ten vessels have been turned around so far, with no ships having broken through the strait since the start of the U.S. blockade on Monday, the command said.
Brad Cooper, chief of U.S. Central Command, said Tuesday night on X that U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea. ■
