The United States military has confirmed it struck an oil tanker in the Gulf, alleging the vessel was en route to Iran's primary oil export hub on Kharg Island. US Central Command (Centcom) stated on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, that the tanker, named 'Belma', was disabled after ignoring multiple warnings. The strike involved firing Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack, marking a significant escalation in the enforcement of a newly reimposed blockade on Iranian ports.
President Donald Trump reinstated the naval blockade on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, citing a series of alleged Iranian attacks on commercial vessels within the critical Strait of Hormuz. This decision follows days of escalating tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran, with President Trump having previously declared a ceasefire "over". A previous blockade on Iranian ports, which ran from 13 April to 18 June 2026, saw the US redirect over 140 vessels and disable nine ships.
Both the earlier blockade and key US sanctions on Iranian oil had been lifted as part of a ceasefire agreement signed on 17 June 2026. During the interim period, experts estimate that Tehran exported at least 74 million barrels of oil, potentially valued at over $6 billion. Washington had also eased decades-old sanctions by issuing a temporary licence for Iranian oil sales and payments in US dollars. However, this licence was restricted last week following renewed Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic shows the 'Belma', which had previously faced US sanctions under a different name due to its alleged links with Iran, entered the Gulf on Tuesday after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was reportedly unladen and last broadcast its location approximately 100km south-east of Kharg Island on Thursday, 16 July 2026. Centcom also reported redirecting two other commercial vessels that complied with instructions to change course.
The current tensions have significantly impacted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil supplies. Preliminary data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler indicates a sharp decline in crossings, with just 11 fuel tankers and cargo vessels traversing the Strait on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. This figure is considerably lower than the 17 ships recorded on Monday and 16 on Tuesday, and remains far below the pre-conflict average of 138 crossings per day. Another crude oil tanker, 'Fuyao', also under US sanctions for alleged links with Iran, reportedly reversed course on Thursday, returning to Iranian waters in the Gulf of Oman, though it is unclear if this was in direct response to the blockade's enforcement.