U.S. missile hits blockade runner as Iran’s port blockade tightens

U.S. missile hits blockade runner in Gulf of Oman

In the pre‑dawn hours of Saturday, a U.S. missile struck the engine room of the Gambia‑flagged cargo vessel Lian Star, halting its attempt to breach the naval blockade around Iranian ports. The ship ignored more than ↓ 20 warnings from U.S. forces before the strike, according to Central Command.

U.S. officials say the vessel now drifts in the Gulf of Oman, unboarded and immobilised. This marks the sixth interdiction since the blockade was imposed on April 17, with only one ship granted passage and ↓ 116 rerouted.

“Any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk,” Iran’s joint military command warned on state TV.

The blockade follows Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the February 28 strikes that ignited the regional war. Global oil and fertilizer flows have been throttled, tightening markets worldwide.

Washington is weighing a 60‑day cease‑fire extension while negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme stall. President Donald Trump met advisers Friday but has not committed to a new deal, and Tehran insists no agreement is finalised.

Commercial traffic continues at a fraction of pre‑war levels; Iran has even levied transit fees up to $2 million, a move Reuters says breaches the principle of free navigation.

Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman, called the fees “negotiable” if tied to mine‑clearing, hinting at a possible de‑escalation path.

Words by: Vance Sterling

Crisis & Global Conflict Director