US Military Inspects Tanker in Arabian Sea

The United States military boarded a Comoros-flagged tanker in the Arabian Sea and conducted an inspection as part of the enforcement of a maritime blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). “Today, US forces completed a verification process by boarding the M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea and the tanker has now resumed its voyage,” CENTCOM said in a post on platform X on Saturday (25/7). The statement added that armed US forces also diverted 12 commercial vessels they claimed were attempting to breach the maritime blockade against Iran. The US and Iran had actually signed a memorandum of understanding on 18 June to end the conflict that began on 28 February. However, the US military launched a series of new attacks on Iran starting 8 July. CENTCOM argued the attacks were a response to Iran’s actions against commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently retaliated by attacking US bases in the Middle East and accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement. US President Donald Trump has also stated that the ceasefire is no longer in effect.