U.S Marines Board Container Ship In Arabian Sea, Suspected of Sailing To An Iranian Port

U.S Marines boarded a commercial vessel in the Arabian Sea, suspecting it was headed to an Iranian Port in violation of the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship M/V Blue Star III was then searched thoroughly by U.S personnel and was allowed to go after confirming that Iran was not its destination.

“Earlier today in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports,” CENTCOM wrote on X.

CENTCOM also stated that 39 ships have been “redirected to ensure compliance” with the blockade.

Shipping through the Hormuz Strait has been disrupted since the US-Iran war began on February 28, 2026. Many ships, especially oil and gas tankers, are anchored in the region, stuck and unable to move to their destination ports.

Before the U.S blockade, atleast 5 ships could be seen berthed at the major port of Iran, the Chah Bahar, every day. However, today over 20 ships remain at the port as the U.S. has impacted Iran’s ability to transport oil from the Hormuz by imposing a blockade, the CENTCOM said.

M/V Blue Star III is a container ship sailing under the flag of Comoros and was headed to the port of Sohar in Oman.