U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Bound for Iran in Gulf of Oman

U.S. forces disabled an unladen oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Monday after the vessel attempted to sail to an Iranian port. The tanker, identified as the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex, was intercepted as part of enforcement of a maritime blockade that began on April 13.

Central Command said a fighter jet fired into the engineering and steering space after the vessel failed to comply with instructions.

Command stated that the Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran. Twenty-four Indian crew members were aboard the disabled tanker before they were rescued by Omani naval helicopters. Since the start of the blockade, Central Command has disabled seven noncompliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied with the measures, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass.

Trump said the blockade will remain in place while negotiations continue. Negotiators are working on a deal to lift the blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Efforts to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program were complicated Monday by an exchange of firepower between Iran and Israel.

Both nations agreed to the exchange under pressure from President Trump. The vessels' operators have not been publicly identified by the U.S. government. No publicly released evidence has documented the precise nature of the tanker's cargo intentions beyond its declared destination.