Gulf of oman: A US official announced that a Panamanian-flagged vessel attempting to breach the US blockade of Iranian ports was targeted early Tuesday morning, in a move aimed at tightening enforcement as the Trump administration seeks to exert economic pressure on the Iranian regime.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the official told The Wall Street Journal that a US military helicopter fired on the ship’s rudder after its crew ignored warnings from US personnel enforcing the naval blockade of Iranian ports. There were no immediate reports of injuries from the incident, which occurred before dawn on Tuesday. The US official also indicated that the ship appeared to be attempting to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel following the attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, the maritime security firm Vanguard reported that the Panamanian-flagged container ship, the Vela Nova, was struck by a missile fired from a helicopter while sailing westward through the Gulf of Oman, approximately 71 nautical miles off the Pakistani coast. Vanguard reported in an initial account of the incident that “the missile struck the ship, causing a fire that was later extinguished,” adding that all 17 crew members were confirmed safe.

In June, three Indian sailors were killed during a US operation to enforce the blockade against Iran, according to an Indian official at the time. These were the first publicly acknowledged deaths resulting from US efforts to deprive its adversary of oil revenues (petrodollars) and force it into a ceasefire agreement.