Roving Periscope: As Hormuz blockade continues, the US turns back 38 ships from Iranian ports

Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: Amid an uneasy ‘ceasefire’ and uncertainty about peace talks with Iran, the United States’ Central Command (Centcom) continues to block the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) and has turned back at least 38 ships from Iranian ports, the media reported on Monday.

Centcom announced that American forces are maintaining a strict maritime restrictive operation in the volatile region, continuing to enforce a blockade against Iranian ports.

According to official statements, the US forces are actively preventing ships from entering or exiting Iranian waters as part of a sustained effort to monitor and control movement into strategic coastal hubs.

The enforcement came as the US military closely monitors maritime traffic to ensure compliance with the ongoing restrictions. Highlighting the scale of the operation, an official post on

Against the backdrop of this intense maritime squeeze and a persistent deadlock in the Tehran-Washington peace negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia on Monday for a high-level meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

This visit to Moscow marks a significant intensification of Iran’s diplomatic outreach, following Araghchi’s recent consultations in Islamabad and Muscat. The diplomatic push in the Russian capital is expected to deepen, as the Foreign Minister is also set to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

These discussions come at a critical juncture, particularly after US President Donald Trump’s decision on Saturday to cancel a scheduled visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The cancellation appeared to stall direct mediation efforts at a time when regional tensions are at a peak.

Despite this diplomatic setback, communications between the two adversaries appear to remain active through back-channels. According to the Fars news agency, Tehran has transmitted “written messages” to Washington via Islamabad.

These communications reportedly define specific ‘red lines’ regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the strategic situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The urgency of these exchanges is underscored by the broader regional instability and its severe global fallout.

While the ceasefire involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has generally remained intact, Iran’s decision to shut the SoH has crippled the global movement of oil, gas, and fertilisers. This disruption has led to a surge in prices and escalating fears of food insecurity in developing countries.

Initial hopes for a second round of negotiations in Pakistan were closely linked to the proposed visit by Witkoff and Kushner. However, those prospects were dampened when President Trump abruptly canceled the mission, dismissing the potential for progress by describing the process as “sitting around talking about nothing.”

Nevertheless, after the cancellation of the high-profile Islamabad talks last week, “fresh signs” of diplomatic movement have surfaced. According to a report by axioswhich cited a US official, Tehran has reportedly provided Washington with a “new proposal” aimed at the dual objectives to “reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war.”

As part of this diplomatic framework, Iran has also suggested a move to “postpone nuclear negotiations” until a subsequent phase of the peace process, offering a potential pathway to de-escalate the maritime and economic crisis.

Enter Russia

The Iranian Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said that Araghchi and President Putin are set to hold talks in St Petersburg on Monday, Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

He said the two leaders’ discussions would focus on recent developments in West Asia since the joint strikes by the US and Israel against Iran, beginning February 28.

Describing the Araghchi’s Russia visit as part of “close consultations,” Jalali noted that Tehran and Moscow share similar positions on key regional and international issues. Leaders of both countries have spoken thrice by phone since the conflict began two months ago.

Araghchi arrived in Russia after concluding a visit to Muscat, where he met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to discuss bilateral ties, regional tensions, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the regional crisis.

During their meeting, the Iranian minister briefed the Omani leadership on Tehran’s stance and thanked Muscat for supporting dialogue and regional stability initiatives especially considering the current regional challenges, Iran’s TV Press reported.

The Sultan reiterated Oman’s commitment to advancing mediation and emphasized the importance of diplomacy in resolving the crisis.

Tensions in West Asia escalated since the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and nearly 100 top leaders. The incident triggered a broader military confrontation, with Iran launching retaliatory operations against Israel and US bases in the Gulf region.

The conflict also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies and intensifying the international crisis.