GULF OF OMAN — The U.S. military disabled the Gambia-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star in the Gulf of Oman on or around May 29, 2026, after the vessel ignored multiple warnings while attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. aircraft disabled the ship, which remains adrift in the Gulf of Oman, and U.S. forces have not boarded the vessel.
The Lian Star is the sixth ship the U.S. military has stopped in connection with the blockade, which began on April 17, 2026. Of the six vessels intercepted, one was later allowed to proceed. The U.S. established the blockade in response to Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026.
The blockade aims to limit Iran’s shipments and restrict its access to revenue. Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues at a reduced volume despite Iran’s assertion that it must approve all transits. Iran has imposed tolls for passage through the strait as high as $2 million, a move experts have described as violating the principle of freedom of peaceful navigation in international maritime trade.
A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7, 2026. Discussions are underway to extend the ceasefire by 60 days while negotiations resume regarding Iran’s disputed nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump met with advisers on May 29, 2026, but has not yet decided whether to move forward with a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait. Iran has stated the deal has not been finalized.
Events in the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global shipments of oil, natural gas, and related supplies such as fertilizer. The U.S. has not found or destroyed any mines in the strait, despite Iran’s claims about using toll revenue for mine-clearing operations. “But for certain times when they say they are going to use it for mine clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable, and it could be something that will help the transit of the Strait of Hormuz to be back to normal stage.” Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, said on Saturday.
Iran’s joint military command warned Saturday in a statement carried by state TV that any military interference with its regulations would be targeted. “Any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk.”