The strike on the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie marks the latest escalation in the US naval blockade targeting Iranian oil shipments.
US forces fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Botswana-flagged tanker M/T Lexie on June 2, disabling the vessel as it headed toward Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal. The unladen tanker ignored repeated warnings, according to US Central Command, becoming the sixth ship disabled since the blockade began April 13.
Since the naval restrictions were imposed, US forces have redirected 122 vessels and disabled six, disrupting Iranian oil exports amid heightened tensions. The blockade followed US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered a three-month conflict and prompted Iran to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices climbed to a one-week high following the incident, reflecting market sensitivity to supply disruptions in the region. Signals of a potential US-Iran deal remain mixed, adding to uncertainty in energy markets.