103 ships redirected, USD 38 billion spent, and commanders meeting in secret. Here’s where the Iran war stands

CENTCOM says US forces have redirected 103 commercial vessels as part of the ongoing naval blockade against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz

PGurus Newsdesk

September 16, 2026

CENTCOM says US forces have redirected 103 commercial vessels as of September 15 to enforce the naval blockade against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz

US commanders meet allies on Iran war strategy

CENTCOM confirms the redirection figure as the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues, with the Congressional Budget Office pegging the war’s cost at $38 billion and rising

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that its forces have, as of September 15, redirected 103 commercial vessels as part of the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran, aimed at enforcing compliance with trade restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. The update came in a post on X, accompanied by footage of an MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter lifting off from the USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) as the destroyer patrols the Arabian Sea.

A Blockade With A Rising Price Tag

The naval operation is part of a wider conflict that has already cost the US Department of Defense an estimated $38 billion as of August 1, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report titled “Estimating the Cost of Combat Operations Against Iran.” The nonpartisan agency, which provides budget and economic analysis for Congress, warned that monthly costs could climb to $3 billion if fighting intensifies to the levels seen in July.

Commanders Meet Quietly In Germany

The vessel-redirection update comes days after top military commanders from the US, Israel, and seven Arab nations held a previously unannounced private meeting in Germany, according to a report from Axios citing two Israeli officials. Organised by CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper, it marked the first gathering of its kind since the US and Israel entered a state of war with Iran more than six months ago.

Cooper reportedly assured the assembled commanders that US forces have no plans to withdraw from the region despite continued Iranian attacks on American bases, and briefed them on Washington’s efforts to keep maritime traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir also updated the group on ongoing Israeli operations across multiple fronts.

Diplomacy Moves In Parallel

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi is set to visit China on September 16 for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed. The visit comes just ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s expected trip to the United States on September 24, where he is due to meet President Donald Trump — placing China’s diplomatic engagement with Tehran and Washington on parallel, closely timed tracks.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.