The US military boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman which it suspected was allegedly violating the port blockade introduced by American forces, which is the latest action by the Trump administration to push Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian-flagged vessel, named M/T Celestial Sea, was headed towards a port in Tehran which was stopped and searched by the US forces, US Central Command said on social media. Since the Trump administration introduced a new blockade of Iranian ports in mid-April, it’s the fifth commercial ship which has been boarded by the US forces.
Diplomatic interventions and sailor release
In a post on X, the US Central Command said, “Earlier today in the Gulf of Oman, U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker suspected of attempting to violate the U.S. blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port. American forces released the vessel after searching and directing the ship’s crew to alter course.”
Earlier today in the Gulf of Oman, U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker suspected of attempting to violate the U.S. blockade by transiting toward an Iranian port. American forces released the… pic.twitter.com/1AVT0MudKY
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 20, 2026
According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, 20 Iranian sailors, who were aboard the vessel, were returned to Tehran. “The release was achieved after intensive consultations between the Iranian foreign minister and his Pakistani and Singaporean counterparts,” the report added.
Gulf allies postpone planned US strikes
The development took place after Trump on Monday said he had called off a renewed strike on Iran after America’s Gulf allies, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia urged the administration that negotiations with Iran were making progress and the talks could potentially end the conflict in West Asia.
The US president had said that “a very major attack” was planned for Tuesday but it was put off after requests from Gulf nations, saying that Trump should wait for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal, AP reported.
Scale of the maritime standoff and blockade
In a latest update, the US military said that 1,550 vessels from 87 countries remain stranded in the Persian Gulf. Before the US blockade of Iranian ports came into effect, it was reported that Tehran allowed some ships which were perceived as friendly to pass while charging fees.
Nearly three months since the war between Iran and US-Israel began, the Strait of Hormuz remains choked by Tehran while the Iranian ports remain under enforced blockade of US military.
