US forces took action on Monday to disable an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for reportedly breaching Washington’s blockade against Iran. The vessel, named M/T Marivex and flying the Palau flag, was targeted while heading towards an Iranian port despite warnings from American military officials. The tanker was empty at the time of the incident, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The US military, operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, used an F/A-18 Super Hornet to fire a precise munition at the tanker’s engineering and steering areas. This strike effectively halted the vessel’s journey, as confirmed by CENTCOM. The disabled tanker, Marivex, was prevented from reaching its intended destination in Iran due to its non-compliance with US directives.
CENTCOM disclosed that since the blockade’s initiation on April 13, US forces have disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that adhered to instructions, and allowed 42 humanitarian aid-carrying vessels to proceed. The statement, however, did not reveal the tanker’s specific Iranian port destination, cargo details, or any prior communications between the crew and US authorities.
