Iranian boats attempt to board US oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian boats attempted to board U.S. oil tanker after drone shot down
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- Six IRGC gunboats and a drone unsuccessfully attempted to seize the US-flagged tanker M/V Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz, withdrawing only after the USS McFaul intervened to provide defensive air and naval support.
- This incident followed the US downing of an Iranian Shahed-139 drone earlier that day and occurred just days before scheduled nuclear talks, highlighting a volatile "armada" presence and a direct dispute over maritime boundaries in international waters.
Six armed Iranian gunboats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached Tuesday a US-flagged oil tanker, the M/V Stena Imperative, in the Strait of Hormuz, following the US downing of an Iranian Shahed-139 drone earlier.
The incident occurred approximately 16 nautical miles north of Oman, within the inbound Traffic Separation Scheme, where the vessels radioed orders for the tanker to halt its engines and prepare for boarding.
The tanker, en route to Bahrain's Sitrah port, increased speed and continued its course without complying, remaining outside Iranian territorial waters throughout the encounter.
The gunboats, equipped with .50-caliber weapons, were accompanied by an Iranian Mohajer drone that approached the tanker at high speed, issuing threats to seize the vessel.
Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech reported the details to its clients, emphasizing the provocative nature of the approach amid heightened regional military activity.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed an interception attempt by armed boats and initiated an investigation, advising vessels to exercise caution in the area.
In response, the US Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul intervened, providing escort and defensive air support, which led to de-escalation and the safe continuation of the tanker's journey.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins described the Iranian actions as unnecessary and confirmed no injuries or damage occurred.
Iranian officials, cited by the semi-official Fars news agency, offered a contrasting account, asserting that an unidentified vessel briefly entered Iranian territorial waters without authorization and departed after receiving a warning.
They denied any special security incident, framing the encounter as routine enforcement of maritime boundaries.
US authorities rejected this claim, maintaining the tanker adhered to international waters.
Earlier on the same day, US forces shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, approximately 500 miles from Iran's coast.
An F-35C fighter jet from the carrier executed the interception.
These events followed Iran's cancellation of planned live-fire drills in the strait after US warnings.
The incidents unfold against a backdrop of strained US-Iran relations, centered on Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile development.
US President Donald Trump has bolstered military presence in the Middle East, deploying an "armada" including the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group, amid threats of potential strikes if Iran refuses negotiations.
Recent suppressions of protests in Iran have further intensified the standoff.
Despite the flare-ups, US-Iran talks remain scheduled for later this week, potentially in Turkey, though Iran seeks to relocate to Oman and narrow the scope to nuclear issues only.
