US Forces Disable Tanker Violating Naval Blockade on Iran

U.S. forces have disabled an oil tanker that was attempting to violate a naval blockade imposed on Iran in the Arabian Sea. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that American naval forces disabled the empty tanker after it allegedly ignored multiple warnings while heading towards an Iranian port.

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USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) transits the Arabian Sea while an MH-60S Sea Hawk flies nearby. American forces continue to strictly enforce the ongoing naval blockade against Iran. As of July 18, CENTCOM has redirected 5 commercial vessels and disabled 1.

CENTCOM reported that on July 18, U.S. forces redirected five commercial vessels and disabled one. The disabled vessel was identified as the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma, observed transiting international waters towards Iran's Kharg Island. U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack, rendering it inoperable and preventing its transit to Iran.

This incident occurred after the U.S. military resumed naval blockade measures against vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports starting Tuesday. The resumption of these measures heightens tensions between Iran and the United States, particularly in the context of maritime security over the Strait of Hormuz.

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U.S. forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran on July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf.

The escalation follows the recent collapse of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities and facilitating negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and regional security. The breakdown of this agreement has renewed conflict in West Asia, leading to retaliatory strikes by both American forces against Iranian assets and the Islamic Republic targeting U.S. bases.

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A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.