The US Marines have boarded and searched an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, suspecting it of attempting to violate the US blockade on Iran's ports.
After searching the oil tanker, M/T Celestial Sea, the American forces directed the ship's crew to change their course, the US Central Command said.
This is at least the fifth vessel to be boarded since US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Trump believes that the blockade is an effective way to pressure Iran into agreeing to the US demands and reaching a deal that pleases him and Tehran enough to end the war.
Iran is seeking a mechanism with Oman to ensure sustainable security in the strategic waterway, while US President Trump says that things are in the "final stages" with Iran.
