US Military Fires Hellfire Missile at Tanker Bound for Iran, Citing Blockade Violation

The US military said it disabled a tanker headed for an Iranian port after determining that the vessel had breached a maritime blockade.

US Central Command said in an official post on X on July 15 that it stopped an empty tanker sailing toward an Iranian port in the Persian Gulf while enforcing blockade measures against Iran.

According to CENTCOM, the Curacao-flagged tanker M/T Belma was transiting international waters toward Kharg Island when it ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the US blockade.

A US military aircraft then fired a Hellfire missile at the vessel's smokestack, disabling its ability to operate. The command said the ship is no longer moving toward Iran.

The US military resumed its maritime blockade of ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. Eastern time on July 14.

In the first 24 hours after the blockade resumed, CENTCOM redirected two commercial vessels that complied with the rules and disabled one ship that violated the blockade.

It added that US forces remain on alert to ensure full enforcement of the blockade and are prepared to respond as needed.