"The U.S. blockade against ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in full effect," U.S. Central Command said — after an F/A-18 Super Hornet fired several rounds from its 20mm cannon at the rudder of the Iranian‑flagged oil tanker M/T Hasna, disabling its steering and halting its transit toward an Iranian port.
The Hasna interdiction and CENTCOM’s account
CENTCOM said the incident occurred at 9 a.m. EDT and that forces operating in the Gulf of Oman "observed M/T Hasna as it transited international waters enroute to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman." According to the command, American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian‑flagged vessel it was violating the U.S. blockade; when the Hasna ignored those warnings, an F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet — launched from aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln — opened fire and disabled the ship’s rudder control. CENTCOM added that after being fired upon, the ship "is no longer traveling to Iran."
Previous use of force: USS Spruance and the Touska
The Hasna incident is the second known time U.S. forces have fired on an Iranian‑linked large commercial ship during the current blockade. On April 19, the Arleigh Burke‑class guided missile destroyer USS Spruance struck the Iranian cargo ship Touska with its 5‑inch MK 45 gun, firing nine inert rounds into the vessel’s engine room after it failed to comply with warnings, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said. Gen. Caine noted that "34 ships have met the U.S. blockade and made the wise choice to turn around. One ship did not," in a public account of those operations.
Maritime security, commercial shipping, and the pause of Project Freedom
The F/A‑18 action came as the White House briefly paused Project Freedom — an effort to protect commercial shipping — after little more than a day, pending negotiations with Iran. The pause followed reports that Iran fired on U.S. warships and commercial vessels being protected under Project Freedom. NBC News later reported, citing two U.S. officials, that the pause "came after a key Gulf ally suspended the U.S. military’s ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out the operation," and that Saudi authorities informed the U.S. they would not allow flights from Prince Sultan Airbase nor through Saudi airspace to support the effort.
Maritime risk remains acute. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization told the reporter that the container vessel CMA CGM San Antonio — a French‑owned ship — was "struck by an Iranian drone" and was "currently drifting without power" after the attack, the IMO said, and that eight people were injured. A U.S. military official said the U.S. was "aware of the reports" about the San Antonio attack but had no further details and noted the transit in question "was not coordinated" through Project Freedom. Since the war began on Feb. 28, UKMTO has received 46 reports affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman: 26 reported ship attacks, 18 suspicious activity reports, and two ships hijacked. Shipping firms reflected the risk: Hapag‑Lloyd said the Strait of Hormuz "remains closed for Hapag‑Lloyd transits until further notice," while Maersk said it was "following the guidance of our security partners" and that it is currently recommended to avoid transiting the strait. The IMO reiterated that "the Strait of Hormuz is not safe at present for ships to transit, and ships should exercise maximum caution."
Diplomatic currents: U.S. proposals, Tehran’s responses, and external partners
Parallel to the kinetic activity, reports suggested diplomacy was moving: Axios reported the White House "believes it’s getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one‑page memorandum of understanding to end the war." The proposed memo would reportedly include an Iranian moratorium on nuclear enrichment, U.S. sanctions relief and release of frozen funds, and reciprocal steps on Strait of Hormuz transit — though Axios cautioned "nothing has been agreed yet." Iranian state outlets and officials signaled skepticism or delay: Tasnim said Iran had not yet responded to the latest U.S. proposal and cited an unnamed source calling parts "unacceptable," while Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei argued that negotiations require "good faith" and are not "dictation, deception, extortion or coercion." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in Beijing after meeting China’s Wang Yi, said Iran had "attained an elevated international standing" during the war and praised a Chinese four‑point proposal on regional peace; China’s Foreign Ministry said it "will continue to work for deescalation in the Strait of Hormuz, and keep Chinese vessels and crew members there safe."
What this means for CENTCOM, commercial shippers, and Iran’s negotiators
- CENTCOM and U.S. naval forces: The command’s statement and the recent use of kinetic force show an operational intent to enforce the blockade "in full effect," with both carrier‑based aviation and surface‑ship guns used to disable noncompliant vessels.
- Commercial shippers and the IMO: Firms such as Hapag‑Lloyd and Maersk are following security guidance to avoid transit; the IMO and UKMTO reports make clear that many operators will continue to treat the Strait as unsafe and route accordingly.
- Iran’s diplomatic team: Tehran is juggling battlefield pressure and diplomacy — state media report no immediate acceptance of the U.S. draft, senior officials publicly call for good‑faith talks, and Iran is simultaneously signaling openness to Chinese mediation and offering port services to commercial vessels, per IRNA.
The facts on record show simultaneous pressure on two fronts: U.S. forces continuing to interdict ships that ignore warnings, and ongoing diplomatic maneuvering that, for now, has produced strong claims of progress but no settled agreement. CENTCOM says the blockade remains active; commercial and international bodies continue to warn mariners; and diplomatic exchanges among the U.S., Iran, China and regional partners will determine whether the current mix of diplomacy and interdiction yields reduced risk in the Strait of Hormuz — or a wider, sustained confrontation.
