US helicopter fires missiles to block Iranian cargo ship


The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said its MH‑60 helicopter striked a Panama‑flagged cargo vessel, the M/V Vela Nova, with two Hellfire missiles, disabling its steering gear and stopping the ship from entering an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.


The strike was carried out after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces. Centcom added that the vessel is no longer transiting toward Iran and that the U.S. blockade remains in full effect.


The U.S. blockade against Iranian ports, instituted in April, has so far redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled three non‑compliant ships, and boarded two.


Iran has not yet commented on the incident.



US military MH‑60 helicopter striking a cargo ship
US Central Command – Helicopter missile strike on a cargo vessel.


The action illustrates the U.S. commitment to enforcing maritime sanctions and serves as a warning to shipping operators that the blockade will be rigorously guarded.