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U.S. forces disabled a third commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman this week after the vessel allegedly violated Washington’s blockade against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.
CENTCOM said the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer was struck at 11:20 p.m. ET on June 10 while attempting to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman.
A U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the tanker’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions from American forces, the command said.
The strike caused a fire in the vessel’s engine room about 21 nautical miles, or 39 kilometers, northeast of Sohar, Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency.
UKMTO said no environmental impact had been reported.
The agency did not provide information about possible casualties. Local authorities continued investigating the incident.
CENTCOM said the MT Jalveer was targeted because it attempted to transport Iranian oil in violation of the U.S. blockade.
The incident marked the third commercial vessel disabled by American forces during the week.
U.S. aircraft struck the Palau-flagged MT Marivex on Monday and the MT Settebello on Tuesday.
CENTCOM said the Marivex attempted to sail to an Iranian port, while the Settebello sought to transport Iranian oil.
Since the blockade began on April 13, U.S. forces have disabled nine vessels that allegedly failed to comply with instructions, according to CENTCOM.
The command said 135 ships that followed U.S. directions had been redirected, while 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid had been allowed to pass.
CENTCOM said the blockade was being enforced against vessels of all nationalities entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
UKMTO initially reported that a tanker had experienced a fire in its engine room northeast of Sohar.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India later identified the vessel as the MT Jalveer in a post on X.
The fire was reported near the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened maritime tensions in the Gulf of Oman.
No environmental damage had been reported, UKMTO said.
The Indian Embassy in Oman said it was monitoring an incident involving a vessel off Oman’s Shinas port and coordinating with local authorities for further details.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details,” the embassy said on social media.
The embassy did not say whether Indian seafarers were aboard the MT Jalveer.
The tanker strike followed U.S. attacks on the MT Marivex and MT Settebello, both of which had Indian crew members aboard.
Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said Thursday that three Indian seafarers who had been reported missing from the Settebello were confirmed dead.
“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after their bodies have been located and identified,” Sonowal said.
An Indian government source said New Delhi summoned the U.S. deputy chief of mission Wednesday after lodging a “strong protest” over the strike.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to maritime traffic until further notice because of what it described as repeated U.S. ceasefire violations.
“Following the American enemy’s repeated violations of the ceasefire conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice,” the Revolutionary Guard said in a statement carried by the Iranian Students News Agency.
The statement warned ships not to leave anchorage areas in the Persian Gulf or Gulf of Oman.
“Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy,” it said.
The MT Jalveer was struck near the blockaded strait, a major maritime route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
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