US forces struck and disabled an Iranian-flagged unladen oil tanker sailing toward an Iranian port, the US Central Command said on Thursday, amid escalating tensions and renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
According to a statement posted on X, the strike took place at 9 a.m. US Eastern Time on Wednesday when the vessel, identified as Hasna, was transiting international waters en route to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.
The US Central Command said the tanker's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings, following which US forces disabled the vessel's rudder by firing several rounds from the 20mm cannon of a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
"Hasna is no longer transiting to Iran," the statement said, adding that the US blockade against ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports "remains in full effect."
The development came a day after US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had halted the Pentagon's mission to guide commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, while maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump also claimed that Iran's military infrastructure had been severely weakened during the conflict.
"They had a Navy with 159 ships, and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the water," Trump said. "They had an Air Force, lots of planes, and they don't have any planes."
He further alleged that Iran's anti-aircraft systems, radar capabilities and missile stockpiles had been "mostly decimated" and claimed many of the country's leaders were dead.
"They want to make a deal badly," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that talks over the last 24 hours had been productive and that a breakthrough agreement was possible. However, he reiterated that Iran "cannot have nuclear weapons."
Meanwhile, oil prices plunged sharply after reports suggested the United States and Iran were nearing a possible agreement to end the Gulf conflict, easing fears of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped as much as 10 per cent in early trading before recovering slightly to around $94.32 a barrel, while Brent crude fell nearly 7 per cent to about $102.14 a barrel. Later reports suggested Brent stabilised near $103 per barrel and WTI around $96 as investors reacted to signs of easing tensions.
According to reports, Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict that began in late February, with major progress expected within 48 hours.
Trump also announced a pause to "Project Freedom", the naval operation launched earlier this week to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports suggested the operation had triggered fresh Iranian attacks on merchant ships and US naval vessels in the region.
"Assuming Iran agrees to what has been agreed to, which is perhaps a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be open to all, including Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
At the same time, he warned Tehran that if no agreement was reached, military action would resume "at a much higher level and intensity than before."
Despite growing optimism over a diplomatic breakthrough, tensions in the Gulf remain high. Reports said vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday received warnings from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy claiming the waterway remained blocked.
China also entered the diplomatic efforts, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly holding talks in Beijing with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and urging Tehran to help stabilise the region. China remains one of the largest buyers of Iranian crude oil.
The ongoing conflict has significantly pushed up fuel prices in recent weeks. Reports said average gasoline prices in the United States rose to $4.54 per gallon, while diesel prices climbed to $5.67 per gallon since the conflict began.
(With inputs from IANS)
