U.S. military strikes engine room of ship attempting to breach Iran blockade

By Raphael Satter

May 30 – The U.S. military said on Saturday it had fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of a vessel that was trying to evade the American naval blockade of Iran, the latest in a series of confrontations that have rattled global energy markets.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) identified the ship as the Gambia-flagged Lian Star, which was moving through international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward an Iranian port. Centcom said it had issued “more than 20 warnings” before opening fire, telling the crew they were in violation of the U.S.-imposed blockade.

“The vessel is no longer transiting to Iran,” Centcom said, but provided no details on the extent of the damage or casualties.

The engagement comes more than six weeks after Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iran on April 13, a move that has sharply curtailed maritime traffic and triggered a surge in global oil prices. Centcom said Friday that the U.S. military has “redirected” at least 115 ships since the operation began.

The standoff also carries a broader diplomatic dimension. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that the U.S. military is prepared to resume strikes against Iran if negotiations to end the ongoing conflict fail to produce a deal.

Iran has largely shut down the Strait of Hormuz in response to the blockade, choking off a key chokepoint for crude shipments and sending energy prices spiking worldwide. The incident underscores the fragile state of maritime security in the region as both sides continue to trade threats and military actions.