Washington, May 31: The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it has neutralized a cargo ship flying the Gambian flag, which was en route to an Iranian port.
In a statement released on social media on Saturday, CENTCOM reported, “CENTCOM forces observed the MV Lian Star traveling through international waters towards an Iranian port located in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was issued over 20 warnings, informing it that it was violating the US blockade.”
According to the statement, “When the crew of the Lian Star failed to comply with the instructions, a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at the ship’s engine compartment, rendering it inoperable. The vessel is no longer advancing towards Iran.”
As reported by the Xinhua news agency, CENTCOM stated that during this naval blockade, the US military has neutralized a total of five commercial vessels and diverted 116 ships.
US President Donald Trump announced this blockade after negotiations between representatives of Iran and the US stalled in April.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Saturday that the blockade is “fully enforced,” despite reports of an initial agreement between the US and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump has yet to finalize.
This blockade applies to Iranian vessels and those heading towards Iranian ports. The Pentagon estimates that Iran has lost approximately $4.8 billion in oil revenue due to this blockade as of early this month.
Previously, on April 19, US forces deployed in the Arabian Sea also took action against an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was heading towards an Iranian port.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the MV Toskka in the northern Arabian Sea as it was traveling at 17 knots towards the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. US forces issued multiple warnings to the vessel, indicating that it was violating the US blockade.
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