WASHINGTON — American military forces launched a missile strike against a commercial vessel attempting to violate the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, hitting the ship’s engine room, according to U.S. Central Command officials on Saturday.
The cargo vessel Lian Star, flying under the Gambian flag, disregarded more than 20 warnings from American forces during overnight hours while attempting to reach an Iranian port, military officials reported. The vessel now sits disabled in the Gulf of Oman waters, and American forces have not yet boarded the ship, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation who spoke anonymously about military activities.
This latest incident brings to six the total number of vessels that U.S. military forces have intercepted while attempting to violate the blockade. Military officials noted that one ship was permitted to continue its journey, while another 116 vessels have been turned away.
The blockade began on April 17 as America’s response to Iran effectively shutting down the strait following the outbreak of Middle Eastern conflict that started with American and Israeli military strikes on February 28. A tenuous ceasefire has remained in place since April 7, with the region now waiting to learn whether an agreement can be struck to extend the truce for 60 days while negotiations proceed regarding Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial shipping channel between Iran and Oman, has created significant disruptions to the worldwide economy. Large quantities of oil, natural gas, and related products including fertilizer remain stuck in transit, adding pressure on both consumers and agricultural producers.
America’s blockade aims to restrict Iran’s shipping capabilities and further limit the country’s revenue streams, adding additional economic pressure to its already struggling economy.
President Donald Trump held meetings with his advisers on Friday but has not yet made a decision about proceeding with an agreement to extend the ceasefire and reopen the waterway. Iranian officials have stated that no deal has been completed.
Despite Iran’s claims that it must authorize all passage through the strait, commercial shipping has continued moving through the waterway, though at significantly reduced levels compared to pre-conflict volumes.
“Any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk,” Iran’s joint military command warned in a Saturday statement broadcast on state television, threatening to target any military ships that attempt to interfere.
Iran has imposed transit fees as high as $2 million, which maritime experts describe as a breach of fundamental international shipping law regarding free peaceful navigation.
Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, stated Saturday that his Gulf nation opposes charging transit fees, “but for certain times when they say they are going to use it for mine clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable, and it could be something that will help the transit of the Strait of Hormuz to be back to normal stage.”
A U.S. official had previously informed The Associated Press that American forces have not located or eliminated any mines in the strait.
