US Warplane Disables Panama-Flagged Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman as Naval Blockade Tensions Escalate

United States military forces disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday after the ship's crew reportedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach the ongoing naval blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

A US fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, with a precision munition, "fully disabling the ship's propulsion without harming the crew," CENTCOM said in a statement. The vessel had reportedly departed an Iranian port and was attempting to transit regional waters when the strike was carried out.

Three Months of Strict Blockade Enforcement

CENTCOM stated that US forces resumed their blockade against all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports on July 14. Over three months of what CENTCOM described as "strict enforcement," US forces have disabled four commercial vessels and turned around 135 ships. In addition, 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) "multibillion-dollar shadow network" were destroyed during the same period, according to the command.

The operation has drawn criticism from some US lawmakers. Senator Chris Murphy questioned the strike on social media, writing on X: "What is this all for? Why are taxpayers paying billions to hit commercial ships?" The Democratic senator added that the apparent goal of gaining leverage to bring Iran back to negotiations amounted to "a disaster."

UKMTO Acknowledges Incident

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed on Sunday that it had received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. The agency said authorities were investigating.

Iran Strikes LPG Carrier in Strait of Hormuz

In a parallel development, the IRGC announced it had struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz for attempting to take what Tehran described as an "illegal route." The move reflects Iran's own efforts to enforce control over the strategically critical waterway.

In a statement carried by official Iranian media, the IRGC claimed its forces "have taken control of the administration of the strait." The statement identified the target as a large LPG carrier named NV Sunshine, owned by NatWit, which was allegedly attempting to transit south of the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized route.

UKMTO reported on Sunday that an outbound tanker in the strait was struck on its port side by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on board. The agency confirmed the crew was reported safe, though damage and potential environmental impact remained under assessment at the time of reporting.

Rising Attacks Near the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran has sought to enforce control over the Strait of Hormuz throughout the US-Israel conflict with Iran, insisting that transiting vessels obtain permission and follow designated routes. Despite these demands, a growing number of ships have attempted to navigate an alternative passage hugging the southern coast of the strait.

The UKMTO reported on Thursday that a vessel sailing approximately 94 kilometres (58 nautical miles) north of Madinat ash Shamal, off the northern coast of Qatar, was struck by multiple projectiles. The attack resulted in several casualties, though the agency did not specify the vessel's flag state or the number of crew killed or injured. Authorities are investigating the incident.

Vessels transiting the Gulf and attempting to pass through the strait, the sole maritime chokepoint providing access to and from the oil-rich region, have faced repeated attacks since the conflict began in late February.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically significant waterways in global trade. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transited the passage.