US says it disabled oil tanker trying to breach Iran naval blockade

US forces disabled an oil tanker attempting to reach an Iranian port after it ignored repeated warnings, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.

"U.S. forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran, (on) July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf," CENTCOM said in a statement.

The military said it tracked the Curacao-flagged oil tanker M/T Belma as it transited international waters toward Iran’s Kharg Island.

"A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," it added.

The US announced Tuesday that it resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.