The US Central Command reported that the M/T Celestial Sea vessel was inspected and diverted after being suspected of attempting to head to an Iranian port, allegedly violating the blockade promoted by the Donald Trump administration.
The operation represents at least the fifth boarding of a merchant ship since the US tightened measures against Iranian navigation in mid-April, a few days after the ceasefire in the region.
Trump had recently announced the cancellation of new military strikes against Iran to favor diplomatic negotiations. He explained that he had planned a large-scale offensive but decided to postpone it after receiving requests from Gulf allies who believed an agreement was close.
Meanwhile, tension continues to escalate in the region. The US military stated that currently there are 1,550 vessels from 87 countries stranded in the Persian Gulf, while Iran maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington reinforces the blockade on ports and ships linked to Tehran.