US Launches Hellfire Missile, Striking Tanker Bound for Iran
The US military has announced the disabling of an oil tanker flying the Botswana flag that was attempting to sail towards an Iranian port. The incident occurred amidst efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to continue negotiations with Tehran to end a conflict that has lasted for months.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that a Hellfire missile was fired into the tanker’s engine room on Tuesday (2/6/2026) local time, after the crew repeatedly ignored warnings from US forces. In a statement on the social media platform X, CENTCOM explained that the target was the oil tanker M/T Lexie, flying the Botswana flag.
“US forces disabled an empty oil tanker attempting to sail to an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf on 2 June. US Central Command (CENTlag) enforced blockade measures against the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie as it traversed international waters towards Kharg Island,” CENTCOM wrote. According to the US military, the crew failed to comply with instructions despite receiving numerous warnings over a 24-hour period.
After warnings went unheeded, the US military took direct action. “A US military aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, thereby preventing the tanker from reaching Iran,” CENTCOM stated. The command explained that this action is part of the maritime blockade policy Washington has imposed on Iran since 13 April.
The blockade covers all shipping traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. “CENTCOM began implementing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on 13 April,” the agency wrote. “US forces have disabled six commercial vessels and rerouted 122 other ships while a ceasefire with Iran remains in place.”
Kharg Island, the intended destination of the M/T Lexie, is one of Iran’s most vital oil export terminals and serves as a primary hub for shipping Iranian crude oil to international markets. This latest incident occurs as President Donald Trump continues to express optimism regarding the negotiation process with Tehran. In a post on the Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump once again urged Iran to reach an agreement with Washington. “It is time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You have been doing this for 47 years, and this cannot be allowed to continue any longer!” Trump wrote.
These statements emerge amidst a contradictory situation. While Washington claims to keep diplomatic channels open with Iran, military operations against targets linked to Tehran continue.