US fires on ship attempting to break blockade of Iranian ports

American military forces opened fire on the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman. According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the vessel was heading toward Iran and ignored repeated warnings from American forces about an active maritime blockade.

To stop the ship, the military deployed a US Navy helicopter. After a missile struck the Vela Nova, a fire broke out on board, which was later extinguished. The vessel lost the ability to continue moving toward Iran.

All 17 crew members survived and were accounted for after the incident. According to maritime security company Vanguard, the crew attempted to move to another civilian vessel after the attack.

However, the Vela Nova was not under US sanctions. At the time of the incident, it had not been definitively established what kind of cargo the ship was carrying or whether it was destined for an Iranian port. The American side states that the use of force resulted from the crew's refusal to comply with military demands.

US enforces blockade of Iranian ports by force

The maritime blockade of Iranian ports was imposed by the United States on April 13, 2026. CENTCOM announced at the time that the restrictions apply to vessels of all states entering or exiting Iranian ports. Therewith, Washington declared that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to ports of other states would not be impeded.

American forces have repeatedly used weapons against ships that, in their version, violated the blockade. In late May, US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Gambian-flagged vessel Lian Star after more than 20 warnings. At that time, CENTCOM reported at least five commercial ships disabled and 116 vessels redirected.

The current incident occurs against a backdrop of persisting tensions around the Strait of Hormuz — one of the key chokepoints for global oil trade. Shipping restrictions in the region increase risks for energy supplies, shipping costs, and commercial vessel insurance.

Source materials: South China Morning Post, The Wall Street Journal, CENTCOM