US missile hits Curaçao‑flagged oil tanker near Iran's Kharg Island

The United States announced that it launched a missile at the funnel of a Curaçao‑flagged oil tanker after the vessel proceeded toward Kharg Island, Iran’s principal oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, despite “multiple warnings” from U.S. forces. According to the statement, the ship continued on a course that U.S. officials said posed a threat to regional security, prompting the decision to engage the vessel with a precision strike aimed at disabling its propulsion system rather than causing loss of life.

The incident underscores the heightened tension surrounding maritime traffic near Iranian waters, where U.S. naval assets have been tasked with monitoring commercial shipping for potential violations of sanctions and safety protocols. While the U.S. described the action as a measured response to a non‑compliant vessel, Iranian authorities have not yet issued a comment, and the fate of the tanker’s cargo and crew remains under observation.