On Friday, May 8, 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that U.S. forces had attacked and disabled two Iranian tankers, M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda, in the Gulf of Oman as they attempted to break Iran’s naval blockade.
Photo: CENTCOM
U.S. forces disabled M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda, May 8, prior to both vessels entering an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman in violation of the ongoing U.S. blockade.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) enforced blockade measures against two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers attempting to pull into an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks, preventing the non-compliant ships from entering Iran.
U.S. forces also disabled Iranian-flagged M/T Hasna, May 6, as it attempted to sail to an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) disabled the unladen oil tanker’s rudder by firing several rounds from a 20mm cannon gun.
All three vessels are no longer transiting to Iran.
“U.S. forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “Our highly trained men and women in uniform are doing incredible work.”
Multiple commercial vessels have been disabled and more than 50 have been redirected by CENTCOM forces to ensure compliance.
CENTCOM
M/T Sea Star III (IMO 9569205, MMSI 422201700) is a tanker built in 2011, measuring 333.02 m in length and 60 m in beam, with a gross tonnage of 164,796 t and a deadweight of 317,519 DWT. Its AIS transponder had been switched off since April 7, when it was in the Strait of Malacca. The vessel has sailed under the Iranian flag since February 2019; previously, from June 2016, it sailed under the Panamanian flag. Earlier, under the Tuvalu flag, it operated under various names: Seastar until September 2014, Sunshine until September 2013, Carnation until October 2012, Panda until September 2012, and Safe until October 2011.
M/T Sevda (IMO 9172040, MMSI 422170000) is a tanker built in 1999, measuring 274 m in length and 48 m in beam, with a gross tonnage of 81,479 t and a deadweight of 159,681 DWT. Like the first vessel, its AIS transponder had been switched off, though since April 11, also while it was in the Strait of Malacca. It has sailed under the Iranian flag since October 2024. Previously, it sailed under the flags of Tanzania from March 2022 as Zeydoon, Iran from February 2019 as Sevda, Panama from July 2016 as Sabiti, Tanzania from May 2012 as Lantana and Spotless, and Malta from March 2008 as Sanandaj. Its earlier registry between 1999 and 2008 is not publicly available.
A Super Hornet likely used 500-lb laser-guided JDAM bombs / Video: CENTCOM
A day earlier, three U.S. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers ‒ USS Truxtun (DDG-103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115), and USS Mason (DDG-87) ‒ were unsuccessfully attacked by Iranian forces. In response, the Americans carried out a precision counterstrike against point targets in Iran: missile and drone launchers, command-and-control centers, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes.
A ceasefire entered into force on April 7, followed by a U.S. Navy naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13. When some Iranian vessels attempted to break the blockade, the Americans used force. On April 19, in the Arabian Sea, the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) fired on and detained the container ship M/V Touska, while on May 6 the aforementioned CENTCOM attack and detention of the tanker M/T Hasna took place.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 8, 2026
Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is among the large contingent of U.S. warships, aircraft, and personnel fully enforcing the U.S. naval blockade against Iran. So far, 52 commercial vessels have been directed to turn around or return to port in order to comply. pic.twitter.com/YtP3EC47Vt
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 6, 2026