US Navy Fires on Merchant Ship Attempting to Break Iranian Blockade

The United States has maintained a naval blockade around Iran’s ports in the Persian Gulf to limit the country’s maritime trade. On Friday, U.S. forces reported that they fired warning shots at a merchant vessel that was attempting to breach the blockade. The ship, which was not identified by name, was reportedly heading toward Iranian territorial waters when U.S. warships opened fire. The U.S. military stated that the action was taken to enforce the blockade and prevent any potential threat to its naval assets.