On Monday, an Iranian military encounter occurred involving a merchant tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This tanker is identified as the Stena Imperative, which is flagged in the U.S. and is part of a security program for tankers, as reported by military and maritime security updates.

Initial reports from United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated that a merchant vessel was approached by several small armed boats around 0900 UTC on February 3 while navigating through the inbound traffic separation scheme of the strait, roughly 16 nautical miles north of Oman. The tanker refused to stop and continued on its course.

Later, U.S. military officials confirmed the vessel was indeed the Stena Imperative, operated by Crowley and Stena Bulk. According to U.S. Central Command, two fast boats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an Iranian Mohajer drone sped toward the tanker, commanded it to halt, and made threats to board the ship.

Instead of complying, the tanker increased its speed and continued its journey. A nearby U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS McFaul, stepped in to escort the tanker, which led to a calming of the situation. The Stena Imperative is now reported to be traveling safely.

Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, described this encounter as IRGC showing their presence in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that while such incidents are common, the current situation has heightened the risks involved.

This incident unfolded shortly after another military engagement where a U.S. Navy F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group in the Arabian Sea with uncertain intentions, according to U.S. officials. Reuters was the first to report this incident.

The Stena Imperative is not just any commercial tanker; it is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program (TSP), which includes 10 U.S.-flagged product tankers meant to help meet Department of Defense fuel needs during emergencies. In August 2025, the crew received CONSOL certification from Military Sealift Command, allowing the tanker to perform complex ship-to-ship refueling operations for U.S. naval forces.

This ability has grown more essential after the closure of the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility in Hawaii, increasing dependence on commercial tankers for supporting carrier strike groups at sea.

The encounter in the Strait of Hormuz took place just days before scheduled U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations, amidst noticeable U.S. naval reinforcement in the area following Iran's harsh response to anti-government protests last month. President Donald Trump previously warned that “bad things would probably happen” if the talks fall through, while Iran has called for restrictions on U.S. military presence near its waters.

UKMTO has again advised vessels passing through the area to be cautious and report any suspicious behavior.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital maritime passage, responsible for about one-fifth of the world's oil supply. Events involving U.S.-flagged and significant military vessels highlight how quickly a misunderstanding in these waters could escalate into larger conflicts.