An F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares to land on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush on April 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON — U.S. forces struck and disabled two Iranian oil tankers on Friday as the vessels attempted to breach the blockade of Iran’s ports, U.S. Central Command said.
The M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda were transiting the Gulf of Oman, CENTCOM said in a post on X.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks, preventing the non-compliant ships from entering Iran, according to the statement.
U.S. forces have forces have redirected 57 commercial vessels and disabled four overall to prevent the ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, CENTCOM said Friday.
The U.S. military also responded to “unprovoked Iranian attacks” with self-defense strikes as Navy guided-missile destroyers transitioned the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The exchange of fire came after reports from Iranian state media that the U.S. attacked an Iranian oil tanker.
For weeks, the U.S. and Iran have issued conflicting statements about the prospects for a final agreement to end the war that began Feb. 28. Even under a temporary ceasefire, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to renew strikes if Iran does not agree to his terms, including surrendering its nuclear material.
The U.S. has in the meantime worked to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has slowed dramatically, driving up global fuel costs and rattling world leaders.
The Navy is blockading Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran is threatening to attack any vessel that attempts to navigate the strait without its permission.
Trump announced on Tuesday night that the U.S. mission to provide protection to commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz had been paused just a day after it began.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday morning that the mission, dubbed Project Freedom, was temporary.
