# US maritime blockade of Iran in Gulf of Oman > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-maritime-blockade-of-iran-in-gulf-of-oman > Updated: 2026-08-13T19:22:48.000Z. Sources: 78. Developments: 2. The United States military has engaged in operations to enforce a maritime blockade against Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman, a blockade reimposed in mid-July. On August 11, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that a Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged container ship M/V Vela Nova. The strike was intended to disable the vessel’s steering gear after the ship allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the blockade. While the strike caused a small fire, all 17 crew members were reported safe and no injuries occurred. Following the incident, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) confirmed the safety of the crew and launched an investigation, advising Panamanian-flagged vessels to exercise extreme caution in conflict zones. CENTCOM noted that since the enforcement of the blockade, US forces have redirected 55 commercial vessels, neutralized three non-compliant ships, and boarded two others as part of efforts to enforce sanctions and limit Iran’s maritime access. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: U.S. military strikes Panamanian vessel in Gulf of Oman The U.S. military struck the Panamanian-flagged container ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly attempting to bypass a naval blockade. All 17 crew members are reported safe. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-military-strikes-panamanian-vessel-in-gulf-of-oman ### 2026-08-11: US military disables Panama-flagged ship in Gulf of Oman US forces used an MH-60 helicopter to fire Hellfire missiles at the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman, disabling its steering to enforce a blockade against Iranian ports. 76 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-military-disables-panama-flagged-ship-breaching-iranian-blockade --- Cite as: US maritime blockade of Iran in Gulf of Oman. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-maritime-blockade-of-iran-in-gulf-of-oman