(Replace) February 3, 2026, 8:20 PM GMT: Article up to date with assertion from U.S. Central Command.
An oil tanker that’s a part of a US-military gas procurement program was hailed by small armed ships within the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast, amid heightened tensions between the 2 international locations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “harassed” the US-flagged Stena Crucial because it was transiting by the important waterway, US Central Command stated in a press release on Tuesday.
- Advertisement -
Two IRGC boats and a drone approached the US vessel “at excessive speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker” earlier than a US guided-missile destroyer within the space escorted the US vessel to security, CentCom stated.
Iranian media stated the nation’s naval forces warned a vessel to depart Iranian territorial waters after failing to supply the mandatory authorized paperwork. The vessel departed instantly after the warning, Iran’s semi-official Fars Information stated.
The incident, which was earlier reported by the UK’s naval liaison within the area, occurred in part of the inbound maritime hall into the Strait of Hormuz, the slender chokepoint that enables ships to enter and exit the Persian Gulf and accounts for a couple of quarter of the world’s seaborne oil commerce.
President Donald Trump final week threatened a recent assault on Iran, heightening tensions between the 2 nations. He has since stated talks between the 2 international locations over a brand new nuclear deal may happen within the coming days.
The ship is a part of the US Tanker Safety Program, which goals to make sure that the Division of Protection has entry to a fleet of American-flagged gas tankers always.
Iran has prior to now each harassed and seized ships crusing close to to its shores. Final 12 months, it diverted a ship known as the Talara to its waters, earlier than unloading its cargo and releasing it.
Late final week, Greece, the world’s largest tanker-owning nation suggested its ships to train warning whereas transiting the strait.
Generated by readers, the feedback included herein don’t replicate the views and opinions of Rigzone. All feedback are topic to editorial evaluate. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting feedback will probably be eliminated.
