British maritime media outlet Lloyd's List reported on the 20th that at least 26 shipping vessels linked to Iran have broken through the US military blockade.
The report states that since the US military imposed a blockade on vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports on the 13th, among the vessels that broke through the blockade were 11 oil tankers carrying Iranian goods. Since the US military expanded its blockade on Iranian shipping materials last week, more than 10 vessels have successfully crossed the blockade area. Additionally, a bulk carrier owned by a Greek shipowner left an Iranian port on the 15th and crossed the blockade line on the 19th.
Iran announced on the 17th that it would open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but later on the 18th stated that, given the US had not lifted its maritime blockade against Iran, the country would resume control of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. On the 19th, the US military forcibly intercepted and took control of an Iranian cargo ship in the waters of the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian military accused the US of openly violating the ceasefire agreement.
Previously, Lloyd's List quoted analysts as saying that the announcement and execution of the US blockade policy exposed it as not a well-considered strategy, but 'essentially cobbled together on the fly as the situation developed.'