US Forces Strike Panama-Flagged Vessel Enforcing Iran Embargo in Gulf of Oman

U.S. Central Command says a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the rudder of the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman to stop it from bypassing the Iranian ports embargo, disabling its steering gear and prompting the crew to transfer to another vessel; no casualties were reported. The incident comes amid tense US-Iran talks and reports of a potential near-deal, with some officials noting President Trump might declare victory without a nuclear agreement.