The US has launched Hellfire missiles at an oil tanker attempting to reach Iran’s Kharg Island, after Donald Trump warned Tehran it “better behave” amid renewed strikes over the Strait of Hormuz.
The unladen tanker had ignored multiple warnings before the US military fired the missiles into the ship’s smokestack, Central Command (Centcom) said.
Since resuming a naval blockade against Iran on Tuesday, the US has redirected two ships and disabled another, the military said.
After the US and Iran continued launching attacks following the collapse of a 60-day ceasefire deal, Tehran has warned that it will not allow any further US interference in Hormuz.
Tehran said Iranian forces will target infrastructure across the region if Trump carried out threats to attack Iranian infrastructure, the Iranian spokesperson warned.
US officials say the strikes aimed at forcing open the strait are also targeting Iranian military capabilities, before the military possibly carries out more complex operations. .
When earlier asked by reporters whether he would give Tehran a deadline, the US president said: “I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story… they better behave.”
