Iranian Gunboats Chase U.S.-Flagged Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Iran claims to want to negotiate, so why is it starting trouble with the US Navy in the region?
Three pairs of Iranian gunboats, totaling six armed vessels from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, approached the U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Imperative while it was transiting the inbound traffic separation scheme in the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 16 nautical miles north of Oman.
The gunboats, armed with 50-caliber machine guns, hailed the tanker via radio, ordering it to stop its engines and prepare for boarding.
The Stena Imperative, which is enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Administration's Tanker Security Program (TSP)—a program that maintains U.S.-flagged tankers for Department of Defense fuel transport needs—did not comply with the order. Instead, the tanker increased speed, maintained its course in international waters, and was subsequently escorted by a U.S. warship.
No boarding occurred, and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) initially reported the incident without specifying nationalities, advising vessels to transit with caution.
Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech provided details on the encounter, noting the tanker's position remained outside Iranian territorial waters.
Some social media reports described the gunboats as having "surrounded" the tanker, but official accounts from maritime sources and news outlets consistently refer to it as an approach.
This incident occurs amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, including recent U.S. military deployments to the region.
No official response from Iranian authorities has been reported.
The tanker continued its journey safely.