U.S. maritime blockade redirects 100 ships as Iran claims drone mimicry

The United States has redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days due to a maritime blockade against Iran. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), no ship has been able to transit the blockade zone without explicit American authorization. The blockade, which was re-imposed in July following the collapse of a brief truce, aims to prevent Iranian oil exports.

The naval enforcement has expanded beyond oil tankers to include commercial ships heading to or from Iranian ports, leading to increased shipping costs and insurance risks. Iran has rejected the blockade, labeling it a hostile act.

In a related development regarding military technology, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, claimed that the United States has developed a drone named ‘Locas’ that mimics the Iranian ‘Shahed-136’. Mousavi stated that the IRGC’s drone fleet, which includes models for both combat and reconnaissance, remains a fundamental pillar of Iran’s national defense.