In brief
U.S. Central Command confirmed that an American aircraft fired precision munitions at a St. Kitts‑flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabling it after it attempted to breach a U.S. blockade of Iran. The incident is part of a broader effort to halt Iran’s sanctioned movement, with the U.S. estimating the blockade has prevented $25 billion in crude oil exports. President Donald Trump has warned of a new offensive, while Tehran has threatened retaliation.
On Saturday, a U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions at a St. Kitts‑flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabling it after the ship tried to exit regional waters following a visit to an Iranian port, US Central Command said.
The command said the plane targeted the vessel’s stern after U.S. forces instructed its crew to abandon specific areas, a move that left the ship unable to maneuver and effectively grounded it in the shipping lane.
U.S. authorities said the incident is part of a months‑long naval blockade that the U.S. claims has halted more than $25 billion in Iranian crude‑oil exports, a key source of revenue for Tehran’s economy.
In a separate statement, US Central Command announced the creation of a task force aimed at tightening controls over Iran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material along its land borders and the Caspian Sea, as it seeks to enforce the Western sanctions regime.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the administration may launch a new offensive against Iran, a threat that has been cited by allied Gulf states as a concern amid rising regional tensions.
Tehran has responded by threatening broad retaliation against Gulf infrastructure, a stance that has heightened anxiety across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
The U.S. military continues to monitor the evolving situation, with officials indicating that the blockading effort and the new task force will intensify efforts to prevent illicit maritime movements that could undermine international sanctions against Iran.
