U.S.-Flagged Tanker Approached by IRGC Gunboats in Strait of Hormuz, Later Escorted by USS McFaul

Dubai — A U.S.-flagged tanker, the M/V Stena Imperative, was approached and threatened with boarding by small Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats and an Iranian Mohajer drone while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday. The ship continued on its course and was later escorted by the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force.

Vanguard Tech said the Stena Imperative was intercepted by three pairs of armed boats roughly 16 nautical miles north of Oman's coast. The gunboats hailed the tanker by radio and ordered the captain "to stop the engines and prepare to be boarded," the firm said. The tanker increased speed and maintained course; Vanguard Tech emphasized the ship did not enter Iranian territorial waters.

CENTCOM Confirmation: CENTCOM issued a statement saying "two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker." CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said the USS McFaul immediately responded and escorted the vessel, which then received defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. "The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely," he said.

Tracking and Destination: MarineTraffic tracking data showed the Stena Imperative remained within Oman's exclusive economic zone while transiting the strait. The ship was reported to be bound for Sitrah, Bahrain, with an expected arrival on Feb. 5.

A map shows the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with Iran to the north and the UAE and Oman exclave Musandam to the south. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

Other Reports and Reactions: The British maritime reporting body UKMTO reported an encounter earlier, saying the vessel had been "hailed on VHF by numerous small armed vessels," that it ignored orders to stop and "continued on its planned route." UKMTO said authorities are investigating and warned all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to transit with caution and report suspicious activity.

Iran's Fars news agency, which is closely linked to the Revolutionary Guards, cited unnamed officials denying Vanguard Tech's account and asserted the vessel had been intercepted after entering Iranian territorial waters without permission. Tracking data, however, showed the tanker remained in Oman's maritime zone.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and has been the site of prior confrontations amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Western capitals. A senior IRGC official recently warned the Guards could block transit through the strait in retaliation for any U.S. strike, and the IRGC conducted military exercises in the waterway over the weekend.

U.S. officials have deployed additional naval assets to the region; media reports last week said at least 10 U.S. warships—including an aircraft carrier and several destroyers—were moving toward Iran's coastal waters in a show of force the U.S. president described as an "armada." U.S. and Iranian officials were reported to be planning talks later in the week, adding diplomatic urgency to the incident.

Outlook: Authorities continue to investigate. Maritime operators have been advised to exercise caution while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.