US Military Says It Fires Missile to Halt Another Oil Tanker Trying to Reach an Iranian Port
CENTCOM said the tanker ignored repeated warnings over 24 hours, and the strike was the sixth vessel disabled since the blockade began.
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, U.S. Central Command disabled the Botswana-flagged oil tanker M/T Lexie in the Arabian Gulf using a Hellfire missile after the crew ignored repeated warnings while transiting toward Kharg Island.
- Since April 13, the military has enforced a maritime blockade against Iranian ports, marking the sixth vessel disabled in this incident while CENTCOM has redirected 122 other ships during the pressure campaign.
- President Donald Trump insisted negotiations with Tehran remain active, calling reports of a communication breakdown "false and erroneous" while renewing pressure on leaders to make a Deal.
- While a fragile ceasefire has largely held since April 7, War Secretary Pete Hegseth recently described talks as productive, emphasizing that the administration remains prepared to use military force if diplomacy fails.
- U.S. forces also conducted strikes against Iranian missile launch sites and vessels attempting to establish mines last week, occurring three days after another vessel was disabled in the Gulf of Oman.
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90 Articles
Trump Warns Iran 'Make A Deal' After US Destroys Ship Breaking Blockade
U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that American forces struck Iranian targets in response to Iranian missile launches aimed at Kuwait and Bahrain, none of which reached their targets or caused damage. The strikes on Qeshm Island were characterized by the U.S. military as a self-defense response, according to a CENTCOM report. The ballistic missiles fired by Iran either fell short, broke apart in flight, or were intercepted by U.S. or Bahraini ai…
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released footage of the interception of the empty giant tanker M/T Lexie, which attempted to break the US blockade of Iranian ports. The Botswana-flagged tanker did not respond to calls for help within 24 hours. A US aircraft hit it in the engine room with a Hellfire missile.
The US military fired a missile at an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The ship was reportedly bound for Iran.
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