US Disables Iran-Linked Tanker M/T Lavine in Gulf of Oman

US forces disabled M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman on July 25 after the ship tried to reach an Iranian port and refused to turn back.

The ship approached four separate times, brushing off warning calls from US Central Command. On the fourth attempt, CENTCOM fired into the engine room and stopped it. It was not sunk. No crew casualties were reported.

CENTCOM described the Lavine as Iran-linked. According to Maritime Executive, the ship's registered IMO number has no recent AIS trading history in the region.

The Lavine is the second ship disabled under the US naval blockade of Iranian ports since it resumed on July 14. The first, Curacao-flagged M/T Belma, was stopped the following day. CENTCOM has now intercepted 85 ships in total.

The blockade cuts off Iranian oil export facilities, including Kharg Island. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply since the blockade's reinstatement. Only one ship crossed on July 23, the lowest daily count since May 7.