According to a statement posted on Wednesday, May 6 by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, the U.S. military intercepted and disabled an Iranian-flagged empty oil tanker, the M/T Hasna, on the morning of May 6 local time while carrying out a blockade mission in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was reportedly attempting to sail toward an Iranian port.
The statement said the U.S. military detected the Hasna sailing in international waters at 9 a.m., headed for an Iranian port along the Gulf of Oman coast. U.S. forces then issued multiple warnings, informing the ship that it was violating the maritime blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports.
After the crew ignored the warnings, the U.S. military deployed F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The jets used 20mm cannon fire to destroy the tanker’s rudder, rendering it unable to navigate. CENTCOM stated that the Hasna can no longer continue toward Iran.
The U.S. military emphasized that its blockade measures against vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports remain fully in effect, and that forces will continue carrying out operations in a “careful and professional” manner to ensure enforcement of the blockade.
According to The Hill, data from the shipping-tracking platform Marine Traffic shows that the Hasna is a large crude oil tanker measuring more than 330 meters long and about 58 meters wide. It was reportedly spotted near the Maldives three weeks ago.
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In recent weeks, U.S. forces have repeatedly intercepted or seized Iran-linked vessels in the Indian Ocean and near the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also stated that since the blockade operation began last month, U.S. forces have ordered 52 commercial ships to turn around or return to port.
The disabling of the Hasna came just after the Trump administration announced the suspension of “Project Freedom,” an operation originally intended to escort commercial ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iranian threats against maritime shipping.
At the same time, reports have emerged that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a ceasefire framework agreement. Reuters reported that President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that the United States had held “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours, and that Washington and Tehran were “very likely” to reach an agreement.
However, earlier that day Trump warned that if negotiations collapse, the U.S. military could resume strikes against Iranian targets.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also stated that if Iran refuses to honor its commitments, the Pentagon is prepared to resume military operations under Trump’s orders. He said U.S. forces are currently “in a three-point starting stance, ready to move at any moment.”
