The United States military has disabled an oil tanker that was attempting to sail towards an Iranian port in the Gulf, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins said the vessel was stopped after it allegedly attempted to breach a maritime blockade at least four times despite repeated warnings from US forces.
He said the tanker was disabled after American forces fired towards the engine room, preventing the vessel from continuing its journey to Iran.
“The crew had been warned several times but failed to comply, resulting in the US military disabling the ship,” Hawkins said.
He added that the tanker was no longer heading towards Iran following the operation.
The United States resumed restrictions earlier this month on vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue.
Washington had previously enforced maritime restrictions from mid-April during the Iran conflict before temporarily lifting the measures in mid-June as part of a framework agreement with Tehran.
The latest action comes as military and diplomatic tensions between the two countries remain high, with both sides closely monitoring developments in the Gulf region.
