Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The U.S. military fired a missile into the engine room of a merchant vessel, the Gambia-flagged cargo ship Lian Star, as it attempted to break through the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. This is the sixth ship to be stopped by the U.S. military, with 116 others redirected. The blockade was launched in response to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz after the war in the Middle East began. A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7, and the region awaits word on whether a deal can be reached to extend it by 60 days.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
The U.S. military has stopped six ships from breaching the blockade, with one allowed to proceed and 116 others redirected. The blockade seeks to limit Iran’s shipments and weaken its access to cash. U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to decide on whether to move ahead with a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait. Iran has said the deal had not been finalized. The situation has shaken the global economy, with shipments of oil, natural gas, and related supplies largely stranded.
The blockade has become a game of cat and mouse, with Iran trying to find ways to circumvent it and the U.S. military working to enforce it.
Author: Evan Null
