PANews reported on June 15 that, according to Xinhua News Agency, a recording of a ship's public radio channel, exclusively provided to Xinhua reporters by a sailor on a merchant ship in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz, shows that the US military hailed ships near the strait on June 15, stating that the US blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas remains in effect and warning ships not to attempt to break through the blockade.

The sailor said he also heard the U.S. military ordering ships to return to Iranian ports on a public radio channel that day.

The United States and Iran announced on March 14 that they had reached a ceasefire memorandum of understanding, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled for March 19 in Switzerland. US President Trump posted on social media on March 14 that he had ordered the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.