US: US redirects 3 commercial vessels attempting to breach Iran blockade: CENTCOM.

RESTRICTION: EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘US CENTCOM/ HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS SHOTLIST GULF OF OMAN (JULY 16, 2026) (US CENTRAL COMMAND - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF US MARINES PREPARING FOR BOARDING OPERATION 2. MILITARY HELICOPTER TAKING OFF FROM AIRCRAFT CARRIER (2 SHOTS) 3. VARIOUS OF COMMERCIAL TANKER TARGETED FOR BOARDING 4. VARIOUS OF US MARINES RAPPELLING FROM HELICOPTER ONTO TANKER 5. TANKER CREW WAITING ON DECK 6. VARIOUS OF US MARINES CONDUCTING VERIFICATION BOARDING ON TANKERGULF OF OMAN - JULY 16 - RESTRICTION: EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘US CENTCOM/ HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS: The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that American forces redirected three commercial vessels allegedly attempting to breach an ongoing US naval blockade against Iran. "As of today, American forces have redirected 3 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 1 that didn’t comply, and boarded 1 to ensure full compliance with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran," CENTCOM said in a post on the US social media platform X. It said US Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a verification boarding aboard the motor tanker "Wen Yao" in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. CENTCOM added that the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters remain open except for vessels attempting to violate what it described as "America's steel wall blockade."