US says it disabled Iran-bound tanker in Strait of Hormuz blockade enforcement
The United States says it has struck and disabled an oil tanker sailing towards Iran in the Strait of Hormuz area, in a fresh escalation linked to its naval blockade. The vessel was Botswana-flagged and was heading towards Iran's Kharg Island when it was hit, according to the US military. The strike was carried out at sea and the tanker was left disabled after the attack.
Sponsored
US Central Command said a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at the tanker's engine room after the vessel ignored repeated warnings. It said the ship failed to comply with directions multiple times over a period of more than 24 hours. Central Command also released visuals showing the moment the tanker was struck, and said the vessel was unladen at the time.
The incident is the latest sign of pressure around maritime access in one of the world's most sensitive shipping routes. The US imposed a naval blockade on ships accessing Iranian ports and coastline on 13 April, saying it was intended to stop Tehran collecting tolls. Iran later established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority in May to formalise toll collection, according to the supplied material, and has argued that the route passes through the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
The tanker was reportedly travelling towards Kharg Island, which the supplied material says is linked to Iran's toll collection system. The confrontation matters because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global energy shipping and a central point of friction between Washington and Tehran. The latest strike shows the blockade is being enforced directly at sea, rather than remaining a political warning.
Sponsored
It also comes as the two sides remain in contact over wider negotiations, including issues linked to Iran's nuclear programme and the terms of a possible peace agreement. The supplied material says the development came after Donald Trump requested changes to a potential peace agreement with Tehran. It also says those changes related to the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of highly enriched uranium from Iran.
On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Washington was constantly changing its views and putting forward new or contradictory demands, while on Tuesday US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that Tehran had signalled a willingness to negotiate elements of its nuclear programme. What remains unclear is whether the tanker was damaged beyond the engine room strike, whether there were any injuries, and how Iran will respond to the enforcement action. It is also not clear whether this will affect shipping patterns through the strait or the pace of the wider talks.
The next developments to watch are any further US military statements, any Iranian response, and whether commercial vessels alter routes in the area.
#StraitofHormuz #Iran #UnitedStates #tanker #blockade
Sponsored
Sponsored
