WASHINGTON: The US military said that it had disabled a Gambia-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail to an Iranian port by launching a missile into its engine room. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees forces in the Middle East region, said the strike occurred on May 29 after the M/V Lian Star failed to respond to more than 20 warnings.
"A US aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room after Lian Star's crew failed to comply. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," CENTCOM said on X. The statement did not mention if there were any injuries aboard the Lian Star following the strike. "US forces have disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 to fully enforce the blockade as a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect," CENTCOM said.
The United States has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports as Tehran effectively halts all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for global oil and gas. Talks on a long-term end to the war and reopening the waterway have yet to reach a final agreement. Trump said Tehran would remove mines in the Strait of Hormuz and end its blockade of the waterway with "no tolls," while the US would lift its parallel blockade of Iranian ports. Trump's post came as Iran's top diplomat suggested the US was holding up a deal with its approach to the negotiations. — AFP
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