The United States Navy successfully prevented Iranian forces from seizing two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy passageway, in the latest in a series of such incidents. According to the US Naval Forces Central Command, the USS McFaul, a guided missile destroyer, intervened and repelled Iranian vessels that attempted to intercept the tankers off the coast of Oman. In one of the encounters, Iranian forces reportedly fired on one of the tankers.
A news release from the US Navy stated, “On July 5, US forces prevented two attempted commercial tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy after the Iranians had opened fire in one of the incidents near the coast of Oman. Both of these incidents occurred in international waters.”
The confrontations occurred during a period of heightened tensions between the US and Iran as they struggle to revive a nuclear agreement that the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from in 2015. The US has long accused Iran of harassing and seizing commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has increased such activities in recent months, with the seizure of two oil tankers within a week in April and May.
In the first incident, Iranian forces approached the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss around 1 am local time on Wednesday. They retreated when the USS McFaul arrived at the scene. Approximately three hours later, the US Navy received a distress call from the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager, which had been ordered by an Iranian naval vessel to stop. Iranian forces fired at the Voyager with small arms and crew-served weapons, but no significant damage or loss of life occurred. The Iranian forces left when the USS McFaul intervened.
Since May, the US Navy has increased its presence in the Strait of Hormuz due to a rise in Iranian attempts to seize commercial vessels. The US claims that Iran has attacked or seized nearly 20 such vessels since 2021. “We remain vigilant and ready to protect navigational rights in these critical waters,” stated US Vice Admiral Brad Cooper.
Iran, which faced heavy sanctions after the Trump administration abandoned the nuclear deal, has not commented on the incident. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions and risks in the region, as efforts to revive diplomatic negotiations continue.

