U.S. Military Disables Tanker Bound for Iran, Ensures Safety of Indian Crew
The U.S. military disabled an oil tanker, the M/T Marivex, in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach a blockade by heading towards an Iranian port. The vessel, flagged under Palau, was intercepted by an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which fired a precision munition into the ship's engineering and steering spaces. This action was taken after the crew failed to comply with U.S. forces' directions. The tanker, carrying 24 Indian crew members, reported a fire onboard, but all personnel were confirmed safe. The U.S. blockade, initiated in April, targets vessels heading to or from Iran, following Iran's restriction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Marivex had been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control due to its connections with Iran-related activities.