The United States has deployed more than 20 warships to the Middle East as Washington steps up enforcement of its blockade against Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X.
The deployment
comes amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran maintaining demands that must be met before it agrees to reopen the strategic waterway to commercial shipping.
CENTCOM said sailors aboard the USS Ross, a US Navy destroyer, are among the forces deployed to the region.
LIVE Updates On The US-Iran War
The command said the warships are supporting military missions, including the “strict enforcement of the US blockade against Iran.”
“As of August 9, CENTCOM has redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 to ensure compliance,” the US military command said.
US Steps Up Enforcement Against Iran
The deployment comes as Iran and Oman are reportedly close to an agreement that could establish new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Reuters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its “final stages”.
However, Tehran has made clear that reopening the waterway would depend on the United States meeting several conditions.
Iran has demanded compensation for damage caused by US attacks, an end to sanctions and military threats, and the removal of what it describes as a US naval blockade in the Gulf.
A US official told Reuters that once a deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, Washington would lift the blockade of Iranian ports.
The official said US actions would be linked to Iran implementing its commitments.
Strait Of Hormuz Deal In Final Stages
The potential Iran-Oman agreement is expected to establish shipping lanes that could be used once the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz are met.
Reuters reported that the arrangement could pave the way for restoring safe passage through the major oil and gas shipping route.
Araqchi, however, reiterated that Iran would not reopen the channel unless Washington met Tehran’s demands.
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Iran and the US are not engaged in direct negotiations, with messages being exchanged through intermediaries, according to the Reuters report.
US President Donald Trump, speaking to Axios, said Washington was “low-keying” negotiations with Iran, adding that the two sides were only “semi-negotiating”.
Iran Lists Conditions For Reopening Strait
Iranian officials have outlined a broad list of conditions for the reopening of the waterway.
Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s top national security body, listed ending further US threats against Iran, halting aggression against Iran and its regional allies, removing the US naval blockade, lifting sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets.
The developments come after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran more than five months ago.
Washington has said the strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and reducing its ability to threaten the region.
A ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran in June was followed by the reimposition of a US blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf in July.
Tehran said the move violated the truce, which had by then already broken down.
The standoff around the Strait of Hormuz is unfolding alongside the instability in the region.
Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates said Iran had attacked a ship affiliated with its state oil company.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously attacked ships it said attempted to cross the strait without Iranian permission.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Yemen-based allies, the Houthis, have intensified attacks around another major maritime chokepoint between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The group said it had attacked Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery, while Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry confirmed a fire at the refinery but said it was extinguished and there were no injuries.
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