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US Centcom Says Tanker Violating Iran Naval Blockade Disabled

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The US Central Command said Wednesday that military forces disabled a non-compliant oil tanker in ballast attempting to reach an Iranian port while enforcing the naval blockade against Iran.

"US forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran, July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf," according to Centcom's X post.

Centcom said US forces tracked the Curacao-flagged vessel as it transited international waters toward Kharg Island.

The vessel ignored repeated warnings before a US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into its smokestack, leaving it unable to continue. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," Centcom said.

The US resumed enforcing its naval blockade on vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to Centcom.

In a separate post on Wednesday, Centcom said that it had launched a second wave of strikes against Iran at 3 p.m. ET.

Centcom said US forces redirected two commercial vessels that complied with the blockade, while disabling one non-compliant vessel during the first 24 hours of enforcement.

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