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U.S. Disables Two More Iranian-Flagged Tankers in Gulf of Oman Blockade

The strikes signal U.S. pressure on Tehran during a push for de-escalation.

Overview

  • U.S. Central Command said Navy fighters disabled the unloaded tankers Sea Star III and Sevda in the Gulf of Oman as part of a U.S. blockade it says it will fully enforce.
  • CENTCOM also reported disabling the tanker Hasna earlier in the week and said more than 50 commercial ships have diverted.
  • The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, carries a large share of the world’s oil shipments, so interdictions there can disrupt global trade.
  • An Iranian local official said a cargo ship near the southern city of Minab was hit and caught fire during the strikes, with five crew missing and searches underway, a claim not independently confirmed.
  • U.S. officials said they await Iran’s reply to a proposal to pause the wider conflict, and Axios reported talk of a short memorandum of understanding that has not been announced.