Washington, June 8, 2026 — The United States military has disabled an empty oil tanker bound for Iran in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly failed to comply with instructions from American forces, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, CENTCOM said the Palau-flagged tanker, identified as Marivex, was targeted after its crew refused to follow directives issued by U.S. military authorities. According to the statement, a U.S. warplane launched a precision missile strike against the ship’s engineering and steering compartments, rendering the vessel inoperable.
“Marivex is no longer proceeding toward Iran,” CENTCOM said.
The incident is being viewed as a significant escalation in Washington’s maritime blockade efforts against Tehran, with U.S. forces now directly targeting vessels that fail to comply with their instructions.
CENTCOM further stated that since the blockade began on April 13, U.S. forces have disabled seven vessels for ignoring orders. In contrast, 134 ships were redirected after complying with instructions, while 42 vessels carrying humanitarian aid were permitted to continue their voyages.
The latest development comes amid heightened tensions in the region and growing concerns over freedom of navigation and the potential for further confrontation between the United States and Iran.
