US forces strike oil tanker after reinstating Iranian port blockade

The United States military disabled the oil tanker Belma in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, saying the vessel ignored multiple warnings while heading toward Iran's main oil export terminal on Kharg Island. A US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles at the ship's smokestack, according to US Central Command.

The action follows President Donald Trump's decision on Tuesday to reinstate a naval blockade of Iranian ports in response to alleged Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and a series of reciprocal strikes between the two countries.

The earlier blockade, which ran from 13 April to 18 June, had redirected more than 140 ships and disabled nine vessels, according to US officials. It was lifted as part of a cease-fire agreement on 17 June, after which Iran exported an estimated 74 million barrels of oil worth up to $6 billion.

Centcom said two additional commercial vessels complied with US instructions to change course, while Belma, previously sanctioned under a former name for alleged links to Iran, entered the Gulf after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data showed the tanker was empty and last reported its position about 100 km southeast of Kharg Island.

Another sanctioned tanker, Fuyao, reportedly altered its route on Thursday, but it is unclear whether the change was due to US enforcement actions. The United States had earlier issued a temporary license allowing the sale of Iranian oil in US dollars, which was later restricted after renewed Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply in the past week, remaining well below the pre-conflict average of 138 vessels per day.