Tension flare as Iranian gunboats threaten to board US-flagged tanker

A US-FLAGGED tanker has been approached by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the Middle East Gulf escalate.

A spokesperson for US Central Command said its forces provided support to US-flagged Stena Imperative (IMO: 9666077) after it was “harassed” by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on Tuesday, with two boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approaching the tanker “at high speeds” and threatening to “board and seize” the vessel.

“Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and immediately responded to the scene to escort Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the US Air Force,” Centcom spokesman Capt Tim Hawkins told Lloyd’s List in a statement.

“The situation de-escalated as a result, and the US-flagged tanker is proceeding safely.”

Maritime risk management firm Vanguard Tech reported the incident in the early hours of Tuesday, stating that Stena Imperative was approached by three pairs of Iranian gunboats while transiting the inbound portion of the traffic separation scheme on the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 16 nautical miles north of Oman.

Crucially, Stena Imperative is part of the US’ Tanker Security Program, which provides the Department of Defense with a fleet of tankers that can supply the armed forces in times of emergency.

The Iranian vessels reportedly hailed the tanker and ordered it to stop engines and prepare to be boarded, but the tanker ignored the request and continued its voyage westwards, according to Vanguard and the UK Maritime Trade Operations, which did not identify the vessel.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence Automatic Identification System data indicates that Stena Imperative did not enter Iranian territorial waters at any point during its transit of the Strait of Hormuz. Capt Hawkins said Stena Imperative was “lawfully transiting the international sea passage”.

Stena Imperative attempted boarding was not the only point of friction between Iran and the US on Tuesday.

Hours before the incident, a US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea after it had “aggressively approached” USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier was transiting the Arabian Sea about 500 miles from Iran shores, according to Capt Hawkins, the Centcom spokesperson.

The provocations follow a two-day live fire exercise conducted by the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz, and amid flaring tensions between the Iran and US, which has been amassing forces in the Middle East.

Before the exercise even began, US Central Command warned the IRGC to conduct the exercise “in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic”.

“US forces acknowledge Iran’s right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters.

“Any unsafe and unprofessional behaviour near US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation, and destabilisation,” Centcom said.

Centcom’s issued a stronger warning to Iran following Tuesday’s incidents.

“Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated,” said Capt Hawkins.

“Iran’s unnecessary aggression near U.S. forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilisation”

Stena Imperative is managed by US-based Crowley Maritime, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

‘Biggest, most powerful ships’

Tension between Washington and Tehran flared after US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran following the regime’s brutal repression of a wave of national unrest in late December and early January.

Trump has since walked back the threat, saying he was assured that a planned mass execution of jailed protesters was cancelled.He has nonetheless sent an “armada” to the Middle East.

Indirect talks between US and Iran are slated to take place in Türkiye on Friday,the Washington Post reported, citing two sources familiar with the effort to broker the talks.

Trump on Monday reiterated his threats to the Islamic Republic but said the US is open to diplomacy.

Asked about comments from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei that a US strike will spark a regional war, Trump told reporters: “Why wouldn’t he say that? Of course he’s going to say that.”

“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close — couple of days. Hopefully we will make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we will find out whether or not he was right.”