U.S. Forces Strike Vessel Attempting to Breach Blockade in Gulf of Oman

U.S. forces overnight as it tried to enter an Iranian port.

The strike occurred on or just before Saturday. U.S. forces have not boarded it. U.S. military has stopped six ships trying to breach the blockade.

One ship trying to breach the blockade was allowed to proceed. U.S. military. U.S. launched the blockade on April 17 in response to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7. President Trump met with advisors on Friday but has yet to decide on whether to move ahead with a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait.

Iran has said the deal had not been finalized. Commercial traffic has continued to flow through the strait at a much lower volume than before the war. Iran’s joint military command said any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk.

The command warned that any military vessels trying to interfere would be targeted. The statement was carried by state TV on Saturday. Iran has charged tolls for transit as high as $2 million. Qatar’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani said on Saturday that the gulf nation opposes charging fees to transit.

He said that for certain times when fees are used for mine clearing or temporary usage this is negotiable. U.S. has not found or destroyed any mines in the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway between Iran and Oman.

Shipments of significant amounts of oil, natural gas and related supplies like fertilizer are largely stranded. U.S. blockade seeks to limit Iran’s shipments and weaken its access to cash.