The U.S. fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker sailing toward a port on the Gulf of Oman that American officials said is under its blockade.
U.S. Central Command said American forces issued multiple warnings to the vessel, but the crew failed to comply. CENTCOM said U.S. forces then fired on and disabled the tanker’s rudder, preventing it from continuing toward Iran.
The incident happened on the same day President Donald Trump issued new threats, saying the United States will resume bombing if Iran does not agree to U.S. demands.
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"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."
Trump’s comments followed a strategic shift. On Monday, he announced he was pausing “Project Freedom,” a U.S. operation aimed at helping ships move through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the pause would allow time to determine whether a peace deal could be finalized.
Axios first reported Wednesday that officials believe they are close to reaching a one-page memorandum of understanding outlining a framework for nuclear negotiations. President Donald Trump later told PBS News that under a potential agreement, highly enriched uranium would be transferred to the U.S., Iran would stop operating underground nuclear facilities and the U.S. would ease sanctions on Tehran.
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Iranian state media, citing government spokespeople, said Iran had not yet delivered its response to the U.S., but reviews of the exchanged proposals were continuing.
