The U.S. struck a tanker heading for Iran with a missile
On Tuesday, June 2, U.S. military forces successfully disabled an empty oil tanker that was heading toward an Iranian port.
To neutralize the offending vessel, U.S. military personnel used a high-precision Hellfire guided missile.
According to journalists, the M/T Lexie, a vessel flying the Botswana flag, was spotted in international waters heading toward Kharg Island.
This geographical feature is located in the Persian Gulf and currently handles up to 90% of all Iranian crude oil exports.
The crew of this tanker deliberately ignored official warnings and categorically refused to comply with U.S. command orders regarding adherence to the current blockade.
The restrictions apply to all vessels entering or leaving Iranian seaports. Due to the refusal to comply with lawful demands, the U.S. military decided to launch an immediate tactical strike.
“Ultimately, a U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the engine room, preventing the tanker from reaching Iran,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) officials officially reported.
This was reported in a post by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on social media.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged new strikes despite the ceasefire
Prior to this, oil prices had risen amid expectations of a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Traders are focusing on possible signals regarding a resolution to the conflict with Iran, which has impacted global oil supplies.
As of Tuesday morning, May 12, Brent crude was trading at $106.4 per barrel, and WTI at $100.6 per barrel.
