Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Washington, Apr 16: A US Navy guided-missile destroyer intercepted and redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command said on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on X, the command said the vessel had departed from Bandar Abbas and tried to evade what it described as a US maritime blockade after entering and moving along the Iranian coastline near the strait.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) was deployed to intercept the ship and redirect it, which was subsequently turned back toward Iran, officials said.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping lane between Iran and Oman, has seen heightened military activity amid rising regional tensions. According to US Central Command, ten vessels have been turned back so far, with no ships reportedly passing through the strait since the start of the blockade earlier this week.

US Central Command chief Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said US forces have “completely halted” maritime economic movement into and out of Iran, though independent verification of the blockade claims has not been provided.

The maritime tensions come as US military leadership prepares for congressional scrutiny over wider strategic priorities. Senior commanders from the Indo-Pacific region, including Samuel Paparo and Xavier Brunson, are scheduled to testify before US congressional armed services committees next week.

The hearings are expected to focus on regional security challenges, US force posture, and the balance between Middle East operations and long-standing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.

Reports have also indicated that parts of the THAAD deployment in South Korea may have been repositioned toward the Middle East, alongside the redeployment of elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The developments have raised concerns in Washington that escalating tensions with Iran could strain US military readiness in the Indo-Pacific, where China and North Korea remain key strategic priorities.