The United States confirmed this Monday that it attacked an oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman after the vessel attempted to continue its voyage toward Iran despite the maritime blockade imposed by Washington. According to U.S. military authorities, the objective of the operation was to prevent the ship from reaching an Iranian port.
The action was announced by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which reported that U.S. military forces disabled the oil tanker M/T Marivex, a Palau-flagged vessel that was sailing in international waters when it was intercepted.
According to the official version, the ship was not carrying cargo, but was heading to an Iranian port despite the maritime blockade that the US administration has maintained over the Islamic Republic since April.
CENTCOM indicated that the crew was instructed to change course, but did not comply with the directions issued by the U.S. forces deployed in the area. Given that situation, a military intervention was ordered to prevent the vessel from continuing its journey.
According to the statement, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln launched a precision munition against critical sectors of the ship linked to the propulsion and navigation system.
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An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter takes off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a naval operation in the Arabian Sea (NYT)
“U.S. forces disabled an unladen oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel violated the blockade in effect against Iran by attempting to sail to an Iranian port”, the Central Command stated.
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The institution added that the Marivex stopped advancing toward Iranian territory after the operation and highlighted that the objective was to neutralize its navigation capability.
The incident constitutes one of the most significant episodes since Washington launched the maritime blockade intended to restrict commercial traffic to Iran. The measure was announced on April 13 by President Donald Trump as part of the U.S. strategy to increase pressure on Tehran.
The U.S. military authorities also released a report on the operations carried out since the start of the restrictions. According to CENTCOM, seven vessels that did not comply with the blockade provisions were disabled or detained by U.S. forces.
The agency also reported that another 134 vessels changed their route after receiving warnings from naval units deployed in the region, while 42 ships linked to humanitarian operations were able to continue their journey upon meeting the established requirements.
The decision to act against the Marivex occurred in a context of high tension in the Middle East. In the last few hours, new exchanges of attacks between Iran and Israel were recorded, which increased concern about a possible expansion of the conflict to other scenarios in the region. Image released by the United States Central Command shows the USS Abraham Lincoln during operations in the Arabian Sea
The Gulf of Oman is of strategic importance for international trade because it connects to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main corridors for global oil and gas transport. A significant portion of energy supplies destined for Asia, Europe, and other international markets flows through that route.
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As military operations continue, the Trump administration publicly maintains its intention to reach a negotiated exit with Tehran. However, the intervention against the oil tanker demonstrates that Washington remains willing to use military means to enforce the restrictions imposed on Iran and control maritime traffic in one of the most sensitive routes on the planet.
