U.S. Military Neutralizes Oil Tanker Attempting to Breach Blockade
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the military targeted the tanker M/T Jarvia using Hellfire missiles. This action was taken as the vessel attempted to breach a blockade related to Iran.
This marks the third incident within a week where the U.S. has engaged with Indian-crewed tankers trying to transgress the blockade.
CENTCOM noted that the Jarvia was transporting prohibited Iranian oil and was intercepted while attempting to transit through the Gulf of Oman. When the ship ignored commands from blockade forces, American aircraft launched “two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room.”
Earlier this week, U.S. aircraft had also disabled a Palauan-flagged vessel, the M/T Maribex, as well as the M/T Settebello, on consecutive days. Both vessels were involved in attempts to bypass the blockade for Iranian ports, specifically the Maribex on Monday and the Settebello on Tuesday.
According to CENTCOM, since the blockade began on April 13, U.S. forces have disabled nine ships violating the blockade, redirected 135 compliant vessels, and permitted 42 vessels to pass that were supporting humanitarian efforts.
The Maribex, carrying a crew of 24 Indians, attempted to breach the blockade multiple times on Monday and disregarded orders to turn back.
The USS F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln carried out the strike, with CENTCOM commenting that “due to the crew’s non-compliance,” precision munitions were fired into the ship’s systems.
Following the strike, the Indian Maritime Union received a distress message indicating a fire onboard and that the vessel was sinking. The frantic call highlighted the critical situation: “This is an attack by the U.S. Navy… Please help.”
The actions taken involved a company named Arihant Shipping based in Panama, which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2025 for aiding in the evasion of sanctions against Iran.
At the time of the incident, the Maribex was under sanctions for allegedly transporting a considerable volume of Iranian fuel within the Persian Gulf since July 2025. Reports suggest all crew members were eventually rescued, with plans for their repatriation to India from Oman.
Just the day after the Maribex event, the Settebello, also carrying Iranian oil, was struck as it attempted to break through the blockade. While some crew members were reported injured, three fatalities occurred during the incident, though specific details were initially scarce.
The Settebello is owned by two shipping firms in the UAE and has had a troubled history, including a previous name change following declassification for non-compliance with safety standards.
Despite resuming operations, the ship faced detentions due to safety violations in both Russia and China in subsequent years.
The managing company of the Settebello, IOS Marine, asserted that it was not transporting Iranian oil, claiming they had not received any prior warnings from the U.S. Navy before the attack, which could have resulted in an environmental crisis from spilled oil.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the strike on the Settebello, emphasizing the importance of protecting seafarers and the safety of international shipping.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed serious concern about the attacks and urged for them to cease, calling for dialogue and diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.
Following the ordeal, there was media coverage surrounding the family of Aditya Sharma, one of the fallen crew members. Questions were raised regarding the choice of route near the Strait of Hormuz, and his father sought accountability: “Who is responsible for the death?”
