U.S. Forces Strike Engine Room of Civilian Ship Near Iran After Warnings Ignored

U.S. forces fired a missile into the engine room of the Gambia-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star on May 29 after the vessel ignored more than 20 warnings while trying to enter an Iranian port.

U.S. Forces have not boarded it. U.S. military has now stopped six ships attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports. One hundred sixteen additional vessels have been redirected, and one ship was allowed to proceed after being stopped.

The blockade began on April 17 in response to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28. A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7. President Donald Trump met with advisers on May 29 but has not yet decided whether to proceed with a deal that would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen the strait.

Iran has stated that the deal has not been finalized. Commercial traffic has continued to flow through the strait at a much lower volume than before the war, despite Iran’s requirement that it approve all transits. Iran’s joint military command said on May 30 that any violation of its regulations would place the security of passage at serious risk and warned that military vessels attempting to interfere would be targeted.

Events in the Strait of Hormuz have left shipments of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer largely stranded, increasing pressure on consumers and food producers worldwide. U.S. blockade aims to limit Iran’s own shipments and further restrict its access to cash.