US military says it boarded cargo ship suspected of heading to Iran during blockade but released it
- Posted on April 28, 2026
- By AOL
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The U.S. military conducted a boarding operation on the Blue Star III cargo vessel as part of its ongoing enforcement actions against Iranian maritime commerce. Unlike previous interceptions, this vessel was released after inspection confirmed no planned stops at Iranian ports. The operation marks the fourth such boarding since the Trump administration intensified its maritime blockade strategy targeting Iran's shipping infrastructure and commercial activities.
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US military says it boarded cargo ship suspected of heading to Iran during blockade but released it
The U.S. military has boarded another commercial vessel during blockade of Iran's ports, but unlike in previous cases, the ship was ultimately allowed to carry on its way. U.S. Central Command said on social media that Marines boarded the Blue Star III on Tuesday but “released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming its voyage would not include an Iranian port call.” The Blue Star is at least the fourth merchant ship to be boarded since the Trump administration began the blockade of Iranian shipping more than two weeks ago, but it is the first to not be taken into U.S. custody.
