INA-Follow-up
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that it had disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel violated the blockade imposed on Iran by attempting to sail to an Iranian port.
CENTCOM said the unladen tanker was transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward Iran when it was intercepted by U.S. forces.
It added that An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired a precision munition into the ship's engineering and steering spaces after the crew failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces. Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran.
CENTCOM confirmed that the vessel was not carrying any cargo.
According to the command, U.S. forces have disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.