U.S. military says it fired on another vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports

By — Julia Frankel, Associated Press Julia Frankel, Associated Press By — Stella Martany, Associated Press Stella Martany, Associated Press By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-military-says-it-fired-on-another-vessel-trying-to-breach-its-blockade-of-iranian-ports Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. military says it fired on another vessel trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports World Jul 24, 2026 6:57 PM EDT IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel that was trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf. The U.S. and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a 13th straight night of strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible. U.S. embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans in the region that options to leave could become more limited, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighboring countries to stay away from bases with U.S. troops. READ MORE: U.S. military launches 13th night of strikes on Iran as clashes escalate over shipping routes American forces disabled the M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after the ship attempted to run the blockade at least four times, Capt. Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command spokesman, told The Associated Press. Hawkins stressed that the ship's crew was warned and didn't comply with commands. The military then fired into its engine room. It's the second commercial ship to be disabled since the military reimposed its blockade. U.S. Central Command said it also has redirected 12 vessels. The same day the naval blockade was reimposed, the U.S. military said it opened fire on the Curacao-flagged oil tanker Belma sailing toward Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. After the ship "ignored multiple warnings," a U.S. aircraft disabled the merchant vessel by firing a missile into the ship's smokestack on July 15. Earlier on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump described negotiations with Iran as "by far the most serious that we've seen," even as the U.S. has launched daily strikes. "We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking to them," Trump told reporters, adding that he's "not in a hurry" to end the war. Vowing that Iran "will not bow to U.S." bullying, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted ongoing discussions with two global powers often at odds with Americans — China and Russia — and warned in an interview with the semiofficial news outlet Tasnim that the Islamic Republic is "neither intimidated by threats nor will we yield to pressure." At the center of the fight is the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for world energy supplies that has been effectively shut do