US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces disabled a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after the ship allegedly attempted to breach the US blockade against Iran by sailing towards an Iranian port.

CENTCOM said the incident involved the M/V Vela Nova, which was attempting to transit the Gulf of Oman towards an Iranian port.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said US forces disabled the vessel's steering gear after its civilian crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings from American forces. According to CENTCOM, a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room.

"The ship is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade, which remains in full effect," CENTCOM said.

The US military command also provided figures on its enforcement of the blockade. It said that, as of August 11, US forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled three vessels that did not comply and boarded two others.

US CENTCOM said American forces operating in the Middle East remained "highly vigilant, lethal, and ready."

Iran discusses maritime services in Strait of Hormuz

The development comes amid separate talks between Iran and Oman over shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime waterway.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier on Monday that fees should be charged for maritime services provided in the strait.

Responding to a question at a weekly press conference about whether maritime service fees had been discussed during negotiations between Iran and Oman, Baghaei said that maritime services generally require reimbursement.

"Generally, when you provide maritime services, you must be reimbursed for them," Baghaei said.

He added that the two sides were not discussing such details at the current stage, while negotiations continued on "certain technical points."

Baghaei described the Iran-Oman negotiations as "smoothly and constructively" conducted. He said mechanisms would be established to ensure safe shipping, deal with environmental concerns, provide maritime services and combat crimes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and Oman discuss a new route in Strait of Hormuz

Under a potential agreement, the existing northern and southern routes in the Strait of Hormuz could be replaced by an intermediate route, Baghaei said.

The proposed route would be used temporarily until Iran and Oman reach an agreement on a new traffic separation scheme, according to the Iranian spokesperson.

Baghaei also blamed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on what he described as US and Israeli "military aggression" against Iran. He said the reopening of the waterway would depend on the removal of the conditions imposed on Iran.

With agency inputs