The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday claimed that American forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly violated an ongoing maritime blockade by attempting to transport Iranian oil.

According to CENTCOM, the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello was targeted late on June 9 after its crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions issued by US forces. The command said an American aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room, rendering the vessel inoperable.

The action marked the second consecutive day that US forces had disabled a vessel accused of breaching the blockade, which Washington says has been in force since April 13.

CENTCOM said eight non-compliant vessels have so far been disabled, while 134 ships that complied with US directives were redirected. It added that 42 vessels carrying humanitarian assistance had been allowed to pass through the area.

US Announces Fresh Strikes Against Iran

In a separate statement, CENTCOM said it had launched additional self-defence strikes against multiple targets inside Iran on Wednesday evening at the direction of the Commander in Chief.

The command said the attacks began at 5:15 pm Eastern Time and were carried out in response to what it described as Iran’s “continued and unwarranted aggression”.

The latest military action signals a further escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides exchanging accusations amid growing concerns over regional stability.

CENTCOM announced the strikes through a post on X, but did not provide details regarding the targets or the scale of the operation.

Explosions Reported In Multiple Iranian Cities

Meanwhile, reports from Iranian media cited by Al Jazeera indicated that fresh explosions were heard in the port city of Bandar Abbas.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the blasts were linked to an incident in the eastern part of the city. Additional explosions were also reported in Sirik and Minab in southern Iran, as well as on Qeshm Island and in the northern city of Gorgan.

The reports emerged shortly after the US military announced its latest strikes, although Iranian authorities had not immediately provided official details regarding the incidents.

Regional Tensions Continue To Mount

The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz have become focal points of heightened tensions as the confrontation between the United States and Iran intensifies.

The latest developments have fuelled concerns over the security of key maritime trade routes and the potential impact on global energy supplies.

With military operations continuing and explosions reported across several parts of Iran, fears are growing that the conflict could expand further and draw in additional actors from across the region.

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