On Monday, U.S. forces disabled a tanker associated with Iran's shadow fleet in the Gulf of Oman. This incident marks the seventh commercial vessel intercepted since the U.S. established a maritime blockade on Iran in A...
On Monday, U.S. forces disabled a tanker associated with Iran's shadow fleet in the Gulf of Oman. This incident marks the seventh commercial vessel intercepted since the U.S. established a maritime blockade on Iran in April.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Marivex was traveling through international waters toward an Iranian port when the crew did not follow U.S. instructions.
CENTCOM stated that an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln targeted the ship's engineering and steering areas with a precision strike after the crew ignored the commands from U.S. forces. This action disabled the tanker and stopped it from reaching Iran.
No injuries were reported, and CENTCOM confirmed that the tanker was empty at the time of the incident.
This vessel has a known history of being involved in the Iranian oil trade.
Records from the Treasury Department indicate that the ship was previously named Arihant (IMO 9464156) and was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025, as part of efforts to disrupt Iran's sanctions-evasion tactics. The Treasury said the tanker had moved vast amounts of Iranian fuel oil and bitumen in the Persian Gulf and identified it as part of Iran's shadow fleet.
This latest action is part of a trend of more aggressive maritime enforcement by the United States.
Just last week, U.S. forces disabled the sanctioned tanker M/T Lexie after it allegedly ignored multiple warnings while trying to reach Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal. CENTCOM reported that a U.S. aircraft launched a Hellfire missile at the vessel's engine room after the crew failed to comply over a 24-hour span.
On Friday, the Department of War announced that U.S. forces had boarded the sanctioned tanker MT Davina in the Indian Ocean, extending enforcement efforts beyond the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. U.S. officials have also previously boarded the tankers Majestic X and Tifani as part of a growing campaign against vessels accused of facilitating Iranian oil exports.
With the action on Monday, CENTCOM reported that U.S. forces have now disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that followed military instructions, and allowed 42 humanitarian aid vessels to pass since the blockade began on April 13.
These numbers demonstrate the scale of an enforcement operation that has evolved from targeting individual shadow-fleet tankers to a broader maritime blockade aimed at limiting access to Iranian ports and energy exports.
The U.S. military has issued advisories through the Joint Maritime Information Center, warning commercial shipping that vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports are subject to blockade enforcement and could face "disabling and destructive fires" for non-compliance with military instructions.
While talks between Washington and Tehran continue, maritime industry groups have cautioned that a full recovery in regional shipping will likely require mine clearance operations, clear transit protocols, and guarantees that commercial vessels can navigate the area without the threat of military action.
Currently, vessels planning to dock at Iranian ports still risk being directly targeted by U.S. enforcement, even as discussions for a wider resolution remain unresolved.