The American army announced on Friday that it had “neutralized” two Iranian-flagged ships by shooting at them as they attempted to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, “in violation of the ongoing American blockade.” An American plane “neutralized the two tankers by firing precision ammunition in their paths,” preventing them from entering Iran, according to the US Central Command. The tankers, Sea Star III and Sevda, are no longer heading towards Iran, the army added.
At the same time, the Iranian news agency Fars reported that there were “sporadic clashes” between the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United States of a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.
The announcement from Centcom caused oil prices to rise in a session marked by uncertainties related to the conflict in the Middle East. The United States had already intervened on Wednesday to neutralize another Iranian ship, Hasna, not complying with the blockade.
American forces also targeted the engine room of the Iranian cargo ship Touska on April 19 after ordering the crew to evacuate.
Tehran has blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz for global oil trade since the beginning of the war on February 28, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and has shaken the global economy. In retaliation, Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Since its implementation on April 13, five days after a fragile ceasefire between the two countries, more than 50 ships have been diverted by American forces, according to the military.
