US forces disable ship in Gulf of Oman during attempted blockade run

U.S. forces disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Monday morning to enforce blockade measures, halting the vessel as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port at 9 a.m. ET on May 6.

The tanker, identified as M/T Hasna and unladen at the time, was observed transiting international waters en route to a port on the Gulf of Oman. U.S. Central Command forces issued multiple warnings and notified the crew that the ship was violating the U.S. blockade.

After the crew did not comply, a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired several 20mm cannon rounds to disable the vessel’s rudder. The tanker is no longer transiting to Iran.

The blockade on ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports remains in effect, with CENTCOM forces continuing to enforce compliance.