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The U.S. military struck a commercial vessel headed toward Iran on July 15, hours after reinstating a naval blockade in the Arabian Gulf.
Central Command stated the unladen, Curaçao-flagged Belma ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to breach the blockade near Kharg Island. The ship has transported about 38 million barrels of Iranian crude oil in its history, according to tracking data.
Military action followed repeated warnings
A U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the Belma’s smokestack, disabling the vessel. Central Command confirmed the ship was no longer en route to Iran.
Since the blockade took effect at 4 p.m. ET on July 14, forces have redirected two ships and disabled one non-compliant vessel. During the previous blockade, which ended after a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, five commercial ships were disabled and 116 redirected. An airstrike on the Settebello on June 9 killed three Indian seafarers.
The renewed blockade has already changed shipping patterns. Vessel tracking firms reported a sharp drop in transits through the Strait of Hormuz on July 15, with most traffic moving to the northern route near Iran’s coast. Ships in that area have kept their Automatic Identification System transponders active, an unusual step in the region.
Iran vows to defend its waters
Iran’s military leadership declared the Strait of Hormuz an “unbreakable red line” and warned against U.S. interference. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on July 15 that Iran has no plans to negotiate and remains focused on defense, state media reported.
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The Joint Maritime Information Center raised its regional risk assessment to “severe,” indicating a high likelihood of attacks on shipping. An advisory noted enforcement of the blockade is concentrated near Iranian ports and coastal waters. Neutral transit through the strait remains allowed, but vessels should expect boarding attempts, heavy U.S. naval presence, and monitoring by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
A 30-nautical-mile distance from U.S. units is recommended to reduce misidentification risks. The advisory also warned unauthorized entry or departure from Iranian ports could lead to interception, boarding, capture, or force.
Tensions have disrupted shipping in the region before. After the U.S.-Iran agreement was signed, traffic through the strait increased cautiously but later declined as Iran began targeting merchant ships using the southern route. Those attacks, which started about a week ago, have escalated into direct exchanges between Iranian and U.S. forces.
The blockade’s return may push more vessels toward the northern route, where Iran’s influence is stronger. Even there, risks are rising. Ships that once sailed with AIS off to avoid detection now broadcast their positions, showing how quickly conditions have shifted.
If the pattern continues, more confrontations are likely. The U.S. has stated it will enforce the blockade, while Iran has set its own boundaries. The strait remains open, but the room for error is narrowing.
Central Command has not released details on the Belma’s crew or whether the strike caused injuries. The vessel’s owner has not responded to inquiries.
