US forces have disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly violated restrictions linked to an ongoing blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a statement posted on social media, CENTCOM said the unladen, Palau-flagged tanker was intercepted on June 8 while transiting international waters and attempting to sail toward an Iranian port.
The vessel, identified as the M/T Marivex, was reportedly stopped after it failed to comply with instructions from US forces. According to CENTCOM, an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln struck the ship’s engineering and steering compartments with a precision munition, rendering it unable to continue its voyage.
“The Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran,” the command said in its statement.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 8, 2026
CENTCOM said the action was part of a broader maritime enforcement campaign aimed at preventing vessels from reaching Iranian ports in violation of the blockade. It added that since operations began on April 13, US forces have disabled seven non-compliant ships, redirected 134 vessels that complied with instructions, and allowed 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid to pass through the region.
The Gulf of Oman, a key maritime route near the Strait of Hormuz, remains a sensitive corridor for global energy shipments, making any military activity in the area closely watched by international markets and regional governments.
The US military has not provided further details about the tanker’s ownership or cargo, and independent verification of the incident was not immediately available.