US Forces Strike Panama-Flagged Boxship For Violating Iran Blockadeby Ship & Bunker News TeamA US Navy helicopter fired two missiles into the Vela Nova’s engine room. Image Credit: CENTCOMUS forces struck a vessel, alleging that it was sailing towards Iran in violation of a US-imposed naval blockade. The Panama-flagged container ship, Vela Nova, sailing towards an Iranian port, was disabled on Tuesday, US Central Command said in a recent social media post. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade, which remains in full effect.” The US had reimposed its naval blockade against Iran last month, after the blockade was lifted in June following the signing of the MoU.