BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. Since the naval blockade began, U.S. Navy ships and helicopters have seized 38 merchant vessels linked to Iran, the U.S. Central Command in the Middle East (CENTCOM) says, Trend reports.
"The U.S. Navy continues to blockade Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving. American forces have ordered 38 vessels to turn around or return to port," the report said.
On Saturday, a U.S. Navy helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney reportedly seized the Sevan, a merchant vessel under U.S. sanctions, in the Arabian Sea. U.S. Central Command stated that the vessel was being returned to Iran on orders from the U.S. military.