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US Central Command disabled the Gambian-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star on May 30 after the vessel attempted to enter an Iranian port, defying a naval blockade initiated on April 13. CENTCOM reported the ship failed to heed stop orders, marking the sixth forced interdiction since the cordon was established.
Every ship was disabled without boarding, utilizing precision fire to target rudders and smokestacks. Previous actions include the tanker M/T Hasna on May 6, and the M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda on May 8.
The blockade has now redirected over 100 vessels and, alongside Treasury enforcement, has frozen nearly $344 million in digital assets linked to the Iranian regime. This two-front campaign combines naval power with financial sanctions to constrict Tehran's maritime trade, reportedly disrupting daily flows worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Bitcoin experienced notable volatility amid these tensions, as the frozen crypto assets remain inaccessible to holders. Exchanges with exposure to Iranian trade networks face heightened scrutiny, and additional Treasury designations on wallets or exchanges are possible.