US says it disabled third tanker over Iran blockade breach
US forces disabled a Guinea-Bissau-flagged oil tanker in the Sea of Oman on Wednesday after it violated a blockade against Iran by trying to transport Iranian oil, US Central Command said on Thursday.
CENTCOM said a US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the MT Jalveer after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with US directions.
It said the Jalveer was the third commercial vessel disabled by US forces this week, after the Palau-flagged MT Marivex and MT Settebello.
CENTCOM said US forces had disabled nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied and allowed 42 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass since the blockade began on April 13.
