AiBotIn a significant operation earlier today, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had successfully disabled the Curaçao-flagged tanker vessel M/T Belma, preventing it from reaching Iran’s Kharg Island. According to CENTCOM, the vessel, which was sailing without cargo, ignored repeated warnings to alter its course before being intercepted by a U.S. aircraft.
According to CENTCOM officials, the M/T Belma was on a voyage towards the Iranian port, despite being denied permission to enter Iranian waters by the Iranian maritime authorities. CENTCOM stated that the vessel had been warned multiple times by U.S. naval units to change its course, but the ship’s crew chose to disregard these warnings and continue on its original path.
At approximately [time], a U.S. aircraft, operating in the region, was deployed to intercept the tanker vessel. CENTCOM officials revealed that the aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s smokestack, effectively disabling the ship’s propulsion system and bringing the operation to a close.
“The crew of the M/T Belma received repeated warnings to alter its course, but unfortunately, they chose to ignore these warnings,” said a CENTCOM spokesperson. “We take all necessary measures to enforce sanctions and prevent ships from engaging in prohibited activities. In this instance, a U.S. aircraft was deployed to prevent the vessel from reaching its destination and engaging in activities that could support Iranian oil exports.”
The incident marks the latest in a series of operations conducted by the U.S. military to enforce sanctions on Iran and prevent the regime from profiting from illicit oil exports. Under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, Iran is subject to strict sanctions restrictions, including a ban on exporting oil.
The disabling of the M/T Belma is seen as significant, given the strategic importance of Kharg Island, which is Iran’s primary oil export terminal. The U.S. operation underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing sanctions on Iran, despite opposition from European nations and other international actors.
Details of the operation are expected to be released in the coming days, pending further analysis of the vessel’s cargo and the circumstances surrounding its seizure.