US Navy Disables Blockade-Running Merchant Vessel in Gulf of Oman
The US military reported disabling the Gambia-flagged M/V Lian Star on May 30, 2026, as it attempted to bypass the naval blockade of Iranian ports. US forces fired at the ship's engine room after it ignored repeated warnings to halt. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions and ongoing negotiations over a 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. CENTCOM continues to enforce a maritime exclusion zone to prevent Iranian military reconstitution while a diplomatic 'Situation Room' process is underway.