US Marines board M/V Blue Star III in Arabian Sea over suspected Iran blockade breach

US Central Command said US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded and searched the commercial vessel M/V Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea over suspected violations of the US blockade on Iranian ports. The ship was released after checks confirmed its voyage did not include an Iran port call.

U.S. Marines boarded a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea after suspecting an Iran-bound voyage. The U.S. Central Command said the vessel, M/V Blue Star III, was searched at sea. CENTCOM said the ship was later allowed to continue. The command added the inspection found no plan to call at an Iranian port.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, CENTCOM described the action and its outcome. "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 on Tuesday.\" The command said the ship was released after checks.

US blockade of Iranian ports and M/V Blue Star III boarding

CENTCOM said the vessel was freed after forces verified its route details. \"CENTCOM said US forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ships voyage would not include an Iranian port call.\" The command repeated that the search did not show plans to dock in Iran. It said the aim was enforcing the blockade rules.

Marine traffic monitoring websites listed M/V Blue Star III as a container ship. The ship sailed under the flag of Comoros, according to those listings. The same tracking data said the ship was travelling to Sohar in Oman. CENTCOM said the boarding happened in the Arabian Sea during the inspection operation.

US blockade of Iranian ports disrupts Strait of Hormuz shipping

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced major disruption since February 28. The disruption began after the US-Israeli war against Iran started, CENTCOM said. The situation has unsettled global energy markets and raised economic concerns. The blockade has also left many ships waiting at ports across the region.

CENTCOM said enforcement actions have redirected vessels in the area. The command added that 39 vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance with the blockade. It also cited changes in vessel build-up at Iranian ports. It said the blockade has cut off trade moving into and out of Iran.

CENTCOM compared current anchoring levels with earlier activity at Chah Bahar. Before the U.S. blockade, an average day saw five ships moored or anchored there. CENTCOM said more than 20 vessels now remain in Chah Bahar. The command linked the rise to ships waiting during the ongoing blockade.

The inspection of M/V Blue Star III ended without further action, CENTCOM said. The command stated the ship was not heading to an Iranian port and was released. Redirected shipping and port congestion continued as the blockade stayed in force. CENTCOM said enforcement efforts remained focused on checking compliance at sea.

With inputs from PTI