On April 18, 2026, the Central Command Commander of the United States, Brad Cooper, stated on Friday, April 17, that over 10,000 American troops are continuing to block Iranian ports until President Trump announces the end of the blockade. Cooper specifically pointed out that the U.S. military is closely monitoring “several ships of interest.”
Cooper mentioned in a media briefing over the phone that the U.S. military is closely monitoring every port in Iran, utilizing MQ-9 drones and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft for aerial reconnaissance.
“We are monitoring every Iranian vessel in every port. It’s as simple as that,” Cooper said, further noting that the U.S. military can maintain a military presence in the region indefinitely.
“We are well-supplied, have sufficient personnel, and possess all the necessary resources to maintain the blockade for however long it is needed,” Cooper stated.
“As the President announced earlier today, U.S. troops in the Middle East continue to fully enforce the maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian coastal ports. Over 10,000 troops, over 100 aircraft, and dozens of U.S. warships are carrying out this historic mission. I believe they are demonstrating great dedication, incredible commitment, and professionalism in completing this task,” Cooper remarked.
He also mentioned that as the blockade on Iranian ports continues, the U.S. military is closely monitoring “several ships of interest.”
“No vessel can escape the blockade by the U.S. I attribute this to the officers and soldiers executing this highly complex mission. Currently, there are several ships worth noting, and we continue to closely monitor them within and outside the blockade line,” Cooper said. “We are monitoring each one of them, emphasizing once again, no ship has escaped or will escape the blockade by the U.S.”
The top U.S. commander in the Middle East confirmed that the U.S. military will begin to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz but declined to disclose the scale of the operation.
“This is a mission we have undertaken. ” Cooper said. He did not reveal how many mines Iran has laid in this key waterway amid weeks-long tensions with the U.S. and Israel, but stated that the number “falls entirely within the range we can clear,” and that the U.S. has been conducting mine-clearing operations.
Cooper stated that since the operation began, no U.S. ships have been attacked. As of Friday, a total of 19 ships attempted to break the blockade but all heeded the warnings issued by the U.S. and safely returned to Iranian ports.
Before Cooper made these remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. President Trump expressed gratitude for Iran’s move but stated that the U.S. military will continue to fully enforce its maritime blockade on Iran until an agreement is reached between the U.S. and Iran.