11.08.2026 20:20
It has been reported that US forces in the Strait of Hormuz opened fire on a Panama-flagged ship named "Vela Nova," which was allegedly attempting to breach the naval blockade against Iran, and that the ship was hit by a missile. Following the attack, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, announced that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless the US changes its stance and accepts Iran's conditions.
A development that will raise tensions in the Strait of Hormuz has occurred.
US FIRES ON A SHIP TRYING TO BREAK THE BLOCKADE In a statement made to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) by a US official who did not share their name, it was claimed that the US attacked a Panamanian-flagged ship attempting to break the Hormuz blockade earlier today.
The report included the assessment: "This means an increase in security measures as part of the Trump administration's efforts to economically pressure the regime."
In the official's statement, it was claimed that a US military helicopter fired at the ship's rudder after it ignored warnings from US personnel tasked with enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
HIT WITH A MISSILE While no information was provided on whether there were any casualties in the incident, the US official claimed that after the attack, the ship attempted to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel.
Maritime security firm Vanguard shared information earlier today that the Panamanian-flagged container ship named "Vela Nova" was hit by a missile fired from a helicopter while sailing westward from the Gulf of Oman, approximately 71 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan.
In Vanguard's initial report on the incident, it included the statements: "The missile struck the ship and caused a fire that was later extinguished," and noted that the condition of the 17 crew members on board was determined to be good.
Mohsen Rezaei IRAN: THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL NOT BE OPENED UNLESS THE US ACCEPTS OUR CONDITIONS Meanwhile, following the development, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who met with China's Ambassador to Tehran Zong Peiwu, said, "The Strait of Hormuz will not be opened unless the US changes its stance and accepts Iran's conditions."
Stating that the US must end the war, pay Iran's blocked funds, and end the wars in the region, especially in Lebanon and Gaza, Rezaei noted that Iran's other conditions have also been conveyed to the US through mediators.
Rezaei also stated that a possible agreement between Iran and Oman regarding the transit route in the Strait of Hormuz should be evaluated separately from the issue of closing the strait.
China's Ambassador to Tehran, Zong, expressed in his speech that his country is against military attacks on Iran.
Zong noted that China has always supported strengthening relations in the West Asia region and among the Persian Gulf countries.