Washington: US Marines boarded a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday over suspicions it may have been attempting to violate Washington’s blockade on Iranian ports, the US military confirmed.

The vessel, identified as Blue Star III, was later released after a thorough inspection determined that its voyage did not include a port call in Iran. The update was shared by the US Central Command in a post on X, stating that the ship had been cleared to continue its journey.

“American forces continue to operate and enforce the blockade across the Middle East. So far, 39 vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance,” the command said.

Visuals released alongside the statement showed a helicopter hovering above the vessel as Marines descended onto stacks of shipping containers, highlighting the scale and precision of the operation.

The heightened maritime checks come amid escalating tensions in the region. Iranian forces had effectively shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz following the launch of a US-Israeli air campaign against Iran on February 28, disrupting one of the world’s most critical oil and gas transit routes.

In response, the United States announced a blockade on Iranian ports after peace talks held in Pakistan failed to yield a breakthrough. Enforcement of the blockade began on April 13 and has since been expanded across key maritime corridors.

Speaking earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the blockade would remain in place “as long as it takes,” while top US military officer Dan Caine подчеркed that the restrictions apply universally to all ships, regardless of nationality, traveling to or from Iranian ports.