U.S. naval forces operating from over a dozen warships directed six merchant vessels, including two sanctioned tankers linked to China, to turn back toward Iranian ports on April 14, 2026, after they crossed the Strait of Hormuz. This occurred amid a U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28, 2026, during which Iran blocked most maritime traffic through the strait, reducing crossings from pre-war levels of about 130 ships daily to at least eight that day. Disputes persist over whether any sanctioned tankers fully evaded the blockade.