The U.S. military disabled a commercial vessel attempting to reach an Iranian port after it ignored repeated warnings, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday, marking the latest escalation in an ongoing naval blockade of Iranian shipping routes.
The Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star was struck by a missile Friday after it continued toward an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman despite more than 20 warnings from U.S. forces, CENTCOM said.
“A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply,” CENTCOM said. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”
Since the blockade on vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports began on April 13, U.S. forces have disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others as part of enforcement operations, while a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passing through it under normal conditions. The U.S. has said the blockade has already cost Iran billions in oil revenue.
In May, President Donald Trump said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has proven “very profitable,” following reports that Iran lost an estimated $4 billion to $6 billion in lost revenue from the measure.
“It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. Navy is acting “like pirates” in enforcing the blockade.
“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them,” Trump added.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday the blockade remains active despite reports of a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
