Strait of Hormuz: US Central Command disables St Kitts-flagged ship after Iran port visit

AP US Central Command said late Saturday that US forces disabled a St Kitts-flagged ship. The command said the vessel ignored repeated warnings. It also said the ship tried to leave the area after calling at an Iranian port. The incident happened during months of US enforcement activity near the Strait of Hormuz.

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The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global shipping, including oil cargoes. US forces have enforced what AP described as a naval blockade on Iran there and nearby waters. The most recent confirmed US strike on a cargo vessel was nearly a month ago. That strike took place in the Gulf of Oman.

US Central Command strikes and Strait of Hormuz blockade

The ship disclosure came after reports that US Central Command did not publicise at least two earlier strikes. In those cases, officials at the command also declined to confirm strikes. The denials came after questions about local accounts of explosions. The pattern has raised questions about how the command reports operations.

Iran state media said on Saturday evening that explosions were heard on Qeshm Island. Qeshm Island lies in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian outlets also reported several explosions at the port of Jask. The cause of the reported blasts was not immediately known based on available information.

Donald Trump comments on US Central Command action on Iran

The US military did not immediately reply to an Associated Press request for comment. The silence came as US President Donald Trump spoke about separate military action. Trump said on Friday that the US military carried out new limited strikes against Iran. Trump said the target was an Iranian air defense system.

Trump described the action to reporters as minor. However, US Central Command did not comment on the operation. The lack of comment continued even after Trump confirmed the strikes. This added to recent instances where official details were limited.

For weeks, Trump has said he was weighing a new wave of strikes on Iran. Trump linked that possibility to the period after the US midterm elections. The prospect has kept the Middle East and other regions on edge. Many have watched for signs of a return to wider operations after almost two months.

The latest ship incident and reports of blasts came amid heightened scrutiny of US actions. Central Command said the vessel was disabled after ignoring warnings and trying to depart. Iran’s media described explosions at Qeshm Island and Jask, with no clear cause given. US officials provided no immediate additional public details.

With inputs from PTI