A U.S. military helicopter fired on the rudder of a Panama-flagged container ship after the vessel allegedly ignored warnings while attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports, according to a report citing a U.S. official.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. forces opened fire Tuesday on a commercial vessel that allegedly attempted to pass through the American naval blockade of Iran, marking a new confrontation in Washington’s effort to restrict maritime access to Iranian ports.
A U.S. military helicopter targeted the rudder of the Panama-flagged vessel after its crew failed to comply with warnings issued by personnel enforcing the blockade, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal, citing a U.S. official, reported that the incident occurred early Tuesday as the vessel attempted to run the blockade.
Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the ship as the Vela Nova, a Panama-flagged container vessel traveling west through the Gulf of Oman approximately 71 nautical miles from Pakistan.
The military strike caused a fire aboard the vessel, but the blaze was extinguished. All 17 crew members were accounted for, and there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to the Journal.
Following the confrontation, the vessel appeared to be attempting to transfer its crew to another civilian ship.
The encounter comes amid renewed U.S. enforcement of a blockade President Donald Trump reinstated in July after Iran resumed attacks against vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade had previously operated from April through June before an agreement temporarily reduced tensions.
When enforcement resumed, U.S. Central Command said American forces would prevent maritime traffic from entering or departing Iranian ports while facilitating passage for ships that complied with the restrictions.
During the first phase of the blockade, CENTCOM said U.S. forces redirected more than 140 vessels and disabled nine ships that failed to comply.
Tuesday’s incident occurred as negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz remained deadlocked.
Iran has demanded that the United States end the blockade, remove economic sanctions, release frozen Iranian assets and compensate Tehran for war-related damage before it agrees to reopen the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, normally carrying approximately one-fifth of globally traded oil.
Iran’s restrictions on traffic through the waterway have disrupted energy markets and contributed to higher fuel prices, while the Trump administration has sought to increase economic pressure on Tehran through sanctions and restrictions on Iranian oil revenue.
Trump has returned to sanctions and other economic measures as his administration attempts to force concessions from Iran, turning the confrontation into an escalating contest over which side can sustain greater economic pressure.
The U.S. blockade is intended to reduce oil revenue flowing to Tehran, while Iran’s restrictions on Hormuz impose costs on global energy markets.
The reported strike on the Vela Nova demonstrates that American forces are also using military enforcement against vessels that U.S. officials say are attempting to defy the blockade.
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