A US attack helicopter has opened fire on a Panama-flagged cargo ship attempting to break through America's Strait of Hormuz naval blockade and reach an Iranian port. Two missiles were fired at the ship's steering gear after it ignored warnings, even as Pakistan worked to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table.
Military Intervention and Ship Details
The MH-60 helicopter launched Hellfire weapons in the maritime intervention four days before the fragile war's Memorandum of Understanding ends on Sunday. The M/V Vela Nova vessel was trying to transit the Gulf of Oman when it was intercepted. US Central Command said it acted after "the ship's civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces."
Blockade and Diplomatic Efforts
The US has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports following failed attempts to end the war it and Israel started on 28 February. As of 11 August, Centcom has redirected 55 vessels, disabled three, and boarded two. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials to try to halt the war and unblock the strait.
Iran's Stance and Threats
Despite President Donald Trump claiming America controls the strait, Mohsen Rezaie, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "As long as America does not change its behaviour and does not accept Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened." Trump declared: "We totally control the Strait of Hormuz ... Nobody else, only us," adding: "At some point, maybe they'll do something and then they get blown away." Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the IRGC, said: "We have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security. One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition."
Impact on Shipping
According to Portwatch, which monitors shipping using satellite data, just 97 ships have passed through the Strait since the US imposed its blockade. That averages four ships per day, compared with over 100 before the war.
