US Military Disables Empty Oil Tanker Heading Toward Iran Amid Ongoing Blockade, CENTCOM Says

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that American forces disabled an empty oil tanker travelling toward an Iranian port after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach a naval blockade imposed on Iran. According to CENTCOM, US forces carried out enforcement operations on July 15 against vessels attempting to enter Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf. The operation involved disabling the unladen oil tanker M/T Belma, which was reportedly sailing through international waters toward Iran’s Kharg Island.

The US military command said the Curacao-flagged commercial vessel failed to comply with multiple warnings issued by American forces while allegedly attempting to violate the blockade measures. “US forces disabled the vessel after firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack, preventing it from continuing its journey toward Iran,” CENTCOM said in its statement.

The development follows the resumption of US naval enforcement operations targeting vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports and coastal regions. CENTCOM stated that within the first 24 hours of the renewed measures, American forces redirected two commercial vessels that complied with instructions and disabled another vessel that did not cooperate.

The US military said it would continue monitoring maritime activity in the region and ensure compliance with the blockade measures. The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with increased military activity around key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial corridor for global energy supplies.

CENTCOM announced that US forces had launched another round of strikes against Iranian military targets. The command said the strikes focused on Iranian military capabilities allegedly being used to threaten commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement shared on social media platform X, CENTCOM said the second wave of operations began at 3 pm Eastern Time under the direction of the US president. The command said the strikes were aimed at holding Iran accountable for actions it claimed endangered freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.

Following the announcement, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar. It remained unclear whether the blasts were directly linked to the US military operations. The latest actions came after CENTCOM confirmed an earlier series of strikes carried out at around 7:30 am ET on the same day, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the two countries.