Situation in the Strait of Hormuz

USA: 10,000 military personnel participating in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

More than 10,000 military personnel are participating in the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command Centcom states according to Reuters.

The US also believes that about ten warships and about ten aircraft are participating.

Centcom has previously said that ships not traveling to or from Iranian ports are not allowed to pass through the strait.

The military also claims that no ships got past the US blockade during the first day. Six ships on their way from Iranian ports were stopped, according to Centcom, and had to turn back.

However, tracking data shows that at least two ships from Iranian ports have passed through the strait during Monday.

China on the US blockade: “Dangerous and irresponsible”

China calls the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz a “dangerous and irresponsible” act that risks increasing tensions in the region, reports CNBC.

– China urges all parties to take concrete measures to reduce tensions in the region and restore normal traffic in the strait as soon as possible, says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press conference.

Beijing urges all parties to abide by the ceasefire and focus on peace negotiations.

Data shows several Iran-linked ships passing through Hormuz

At least nine ships with links to Iran have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US began its blockade. This is shown by tracking data from the intelligence and analysis platform Kpler, according to CNN.

Several of the ships that Kpler said have passed through the strait are subject to US sanctions due to links to Iran.

According to the US Central Command, Centcom, the blockade only applies to ships traveling from or to Iranian ports. Other ships are allowed to pass through the strait.

Centcom also claimed earlier in the day that no ships had passed through the strait in the past 24 hours, and that six commercial ships from Iranian ports had been stopped and turned back.