New Delhi, April 15 -- The United States has deployed more than 15 warships to blockade all traffic attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported citing a senior US official. The warships are not placed near Iran's coast as that would leave them open to attack, officials said. Instead, the US will try to intercept vessels on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, WSJ reported. It added that US warships can approach any tanker suspected of violating the blockade, and if a ship doesn't comply with a request to board, specially trained Marines and Navy SEALs will board it. Among the US naval assets deployed in support of the blockade are an aircraft carrier, multiple guided-missile destroyers, an amphibious assault ship and several other warships, WSJ reported. These ships can launch helicopters for boarding operations against commercial vessels, and also marshal vessels to wherever they want and hold them in place, it added. The US can also fly boarding teams to vessels from land, including from US allies in the region, WSJ reported. If the US takes control of a tanker, it may need a captain and crew to drive the vessels if the current crew doesn't comply, WSJ reported. The US would also need a place to park the tankers, former officials said. A military plan for blockading the Strait of Hormuz has been on the cards for years, WSJ reported. The US Navy has successfully conducted other various blockades in the past. Military planners presented the option to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth months ago, according to a senior US official, WSJ reported. The operation is risky for US service members, WSJ reported. The US decided against a blockade before the war because it thought that Iran would respond by seizing tankers carrying oil from US allies or by mining the strait - which would drive up oil prices sharply, WSJ reported....